Joshua 2:11 And
as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any
man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and
on the earth beneath.
The reputation of
the Israelites preceded them. Rahab and all the residents of Jericho had heard
of the miraculous way in which they were able to flee Egypt. God had
intervened. Jericho knew of the destruction the Israelites brought on the
armies beyond the Jordan who first confronted them. God had unleashed his
wrath. Now, with Jericho in the cross hairs of their advance, everyone was
afraid of what they would do to their city. Rahab speaks for the city as a
whole in her fear. The God of Israel will destroy them next.
Out of this
realization of God, Rahab begins to speak for herself. She acknowledges the God
of Israel as The God, the God of heaven and of earth. From this belief she asks
the spies to spare her and her family. She knows that without their help they
too will perish.
Our knowledge of God
is made possible by the Bible. Throughout the Old and New Testament we read of
His interaction with mankind. Especially in the Old Testament do we see His
active participation in world events. This knowledge is the basis for our
belief in how He will act in the future. For Christians, our knowledge informs
our belief in God. From this we develop a trust in God to continue to act as He
has in the past. This process is exhibited by Rahab. Her knowledge led to
belief which influenced her trust in how God would act in the future.
Rahab had
knowledge of the God who destroyed armies and miraculously saved an entire
nation of people. She now believes that God will continue to act for the good
of Israel. She believed that God would destroy Jericho as he had destroyed the
other armies. As He miraculously saved the Israelites from destruction in
Egypt, she trusted Him to save her and her family. She exercises saving faith
in turning to God’s people, the spies, to save her. They are God’s agents for
safety as she depends on their showing her and her family mercy in advance of
Jericho’s certain destruction.
