Another commandment in addition to the blood on the door posts in Egypt and the scarlet thread was they had to remain in the house. The scarlet thread and blood did no good if they went outside their house. I liken this to we have to keep the commandments of Christ and abide in his house or the blood will not avail anything. St. John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
A lesson on faith is hidden in this verse. The Jewish spies told Rahab that mercy would be shown to her and her family because of her assistance to them. There was one thing she had to do. She was to hang a scarlet scarf in her window to identify her house as under the protection against the coming of the Jewish military to destroy that city. Even as they made their way to safety she hung the scarf. Her faith in their promise was immediate. The invasion could happen at any moment. She wasted no time to effect the protection offered her. We, too, have been offered grace, through the blood of Jesus. His judgment could come at any moment. Don't delay accepting that grace. Be obedient. Give your status with God visibility for all to see. Woo your loved ones. Do not delay. What God has said will be done. You can't afford delay, for Christ could come to you at any time.We could go to the eternal God at any time.
This kinda reminds me of the Passover in Egypt . Rahab put a scarlet thread in her window and all that were in her house were saved from destruction . That seems to me a kind of Passover , at least for her and her family . Yes Jesus's lineage is very interesting , lots of people who we might not imagine to be there , Rahab a Canaanite prostitute and Ruth a Moabite . This to me , is a foreshadow of the cleansing of all sinners through Christ , even gentiles , us in other words . I love the Old Testament so much , it sheds so much light on the New . I'm enjoying your commentaries very much , thank you .
The infamous "Rahab the Harlot" tale. The origin of this person brings in mind Christ's statement in Matthew 21:31. Despite her past trade; this woman was given insight on how God was the true God of heaven and earth. (v. 11). Her reaction was to immediately ask for safety for her family and all that belonged to her. Obviously, the spies were grateful that their lives were spared. One could nitpick about the deception used to remove the men searching for them. It appears that others were aware of those going in and out her house; and the King was quickly informed-perhaps the strategic location and the great fear of invasion has something to do with their hypervigilance.
Anyway; she is written in Hebrews; as being in the "hall of faithful" in Hebrews 11. She was the great grandmother of David; and in Christ's lineage. The instructions given reminds us of those who escape wrath in other scriptures. She was to wait until they came; which did occur later. She wasted no time in identifying her house with the scarlet cord as instructed to be placed when they returned to invade.
Once again, she made them swear an oath (v. 12); and they agreed if she obeyed their stipulations and laid their lives on the line to bind it. (v.14) Ultimately; Christ said to make our yea yea and nay nay; and not to swear on anything ( Matthew 5:37). This would be in relation to things between people; not to eliminate covenants with God such as marriage.
Would it be that we all realize that we are unworthy servants; and take action when necessary when it is prudent to do so. This is one case where no prayer was needed in order to make a wise decision. She was given grace to see clearly what the Lord intended to do; and to be sensible enough to realize He is the true God who would continue to fight for His chosen people.
Story from a Hebrew website - In Reply on Joshua 2 - 2 years ago
Rahab Saves the Spies and Saves Her Family
A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, Rahab is a prostitute who is also a biblical heroine. According to the narrative in Joshua 2, before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends two men as spies to see the land. They come to Rahab's house for lodging, information. The king, hearing about the two men, demands that Rahab give them up. Like the midwives in Egypt, Rahab is faced with a "moment of truth." Like them, Rahab defies the ruler and rescues the Israelites. She tells the king's men that the two men have left and that the king's men should chase them. Meanwhile, she has hidden the men under the flax drying on her roof (2:4); the writer uses the unusual word tizpeno, "she hid him" (even though there are two men), perhaps as an allusion to Exod 2:2, where Moses's mother hides her newborn (tizpenehu). Rahab is midwife and mother to Israel in its beginnings in Canaan.
Rahab lets the two men out through her window, which is in the town wall. She requests a return for her act of esed (NJPS, "I have shown loyalty"). She asks that she and her family be spared once the Israelites attack Jericho. The spies give her a crimson thread to hang from her window, with the injunction that she is to gather her family and wait inside her house; as long as they stay indoors, they will be spared. When the Israelites destroy Jericho, as described in Joshua, Rahab and her whole extended family indeed escape doom by waiting inside a house marked with a red thread, just as the Israelites who stayed in houses marked with the blood of the paschal lamb were spared the fate of the Egyptians. They are exempted from the erem, Israel's obligation to destroy all Canaanites (see 6:17), and are brought out of the city to live among the Israelites (6:25). Rahab and her family are a new Israel.
Right,. God never called her a harlot , it was the people, particularly the ones that made fabric, because she was the best ,. An that made others jealous
The Bible is a very honest book , all kinds of human frailty and foolishness can be found in it . It doesn't sugar coat the Truth and neither should we .
I've read comments about Rahab not being a harlot. Even Matthew Henry made a comment that she was not likely a harlot, but rather a business women such as innkeeper. The Word of God warns us of changing His word. Do not add to it, nor subtract from it! So what's it going to be? Do we believe all of His word, or pick and choose what fits our own narrative? I think we best follow His Word, and lean not on our own understanding.
Donna Something to keep in mind what they saw was a vision or a sight, the same word is used in Acts 10:17 + 19 God was displaying something for a specific purpose. God was showing Peter to go to the gentiles Cornelius Household for they could receive Holy spirit In Acts 26:19 in context same thing God making something to occur to fulfill His word with Apostle paul. When God wants to accomplish His word nothing will stop that.
The scarlet thread was to show which house to save. It is also a type of Christ, the scarlet thread being a symbol of the blood of Jesus red blood , which saves us, as the scarlet thread saved those who were in the house.
21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. What was the purpose of the scarlet line? They didn't enter into the city that way. They came in the front gate.
We learn in v.11 that Rahab believed in God and because of her belief, she and her household was promised salvation. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house", Acts 16:31
Its all about God's amazing grace, his purpose and plans for our lives, at the appointed time He can and will change our lives, no matter how we started out, if we obey the day we here his voice it does'nt have to end that way, but will end in total victory, our God is sovereign!!!!
Jack Ellington; Joshua 2:1. Scripture says she was a Harlot. V6. "She hid them in the stalks of flax." It doesn't say why the flax was there. It doesn't say she was a business woman, but it does say she was a harlot. The point of the story is that she protected them.
In Joshua 2: 1 Here they call Rahab a harlot! Was she a harlot or was she a business woman? Because in Joshua 2:6 it says she hid them in stalks of flax she had laid in order upon the foof of her house.So if she had flax stacked on her roof she must have been a business woman of fine linen.Was she stereotyped? Because of this?
: God can use anybody and anything to achieve His purpose, even a harlot. Even in our lives, all walls of Jericho can be demolished through the Mighty Hand of God through ways we cannot fathom. Stay at the centre of His Will and he will work miracles in your life. Praise Jesus.
God can use anybody and anything to achieve His purpose, even a harlot. Even in our lives, all walls of Jericho can be demolished through the Mighty Hand of God through ways we cannot fathom. Stay at the centre of His Will and he will work miracles in your life. Praise Jesus.
Rahab in a church today; I was a 'Rahab', and several others in our church - and all the other saints love us and we all pray for each other and NO ONE'S past is EVER mentioned. It's just like the code of the old west - no one is asked of one's past. Just a few of us know of a very few's past. There are certain saints we feel comfortable in that way with; we help each other with our testimonies.
I've read this ch. many times, but just this time took notice of v. 10; Rahab says 'they' (her family) remember the Red Sea event. This had to have been told to Rahab as a child; she would be too old at this time to be in this 'lifestyle' still - or maybe not .....? Just as in Deut. God tells His people to read and talk of His word always, the Gentiles keep these stories alive.
Tammy: So true! I have experienced very great kindness from the Lord, and from many of His servants and handmaids, along the way. But sometimes I've seen so much condescending and arrogance too. Jesus felt compassion for the crowds; and so should we, for the same reasons. When they were not able to receive the straight teaching; then He used parables, to reach them on a level they could relate to.
I think this particular passage serves as a great reminder for us all, we must be also mindful of the saving power of kindness. I acknowledge that Jesus is the only way that mankind can obtain eternal life, but there are moments in times when the Father will remember our sacrifices or ministries of help to bless our love ones. The power of kindness. How would Rehab be viewed in a church of today?
"Oh yes, she's the sister we don't talk about."
And then she was chosen to be in the lineage of Jesus!
Anyway; she is written in Hebrews; as being in the "hall of faithful" in Hebrews 11. She was the great grandmother of David; and in Christ's lineage. The instructions given reminds us of those who escape wrath in other scriptures. She was to wait until they came; which did occur later. She wasted no time in identifying her house with the scarlet cord as instructed to be placed when they returned to invade.
Once again, she made them swear an oath (v. 12); and they agreed if she obeyed their stipulations and laid their lives on the line to bind it. (v.14) Ultimately; Christ said to make our yea yea and nay nay; and not to swear on anything ( Matthew 5:37). This would be in relation to things between people; not to eliminate covenants with God such as marriage.
Would it be that we all realize that we are unworthy servants; and take action when necessary when it is prudent to do so. This is one case where no prayer was needed in order to make a wise decision. She was given grace to see clearly what the Lord intended to do; and to be sensible enough to realize He is the true God who would continue to fight for His chosen people.
A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, Rahab is a prostitute who is also a biblical heroine. According to the narrative in Joshua 2, before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends two men as spies to see the land. They come to Rahab's house for lodging, information. The king, hearing about the two men, demands that Rahab give them up. Like the midwives in Egypt, Rahab is faced with a "moment of truth." Like them, Rahab defies the ruler and rescues the Israelites. She tells the king's men that the two men have left and that the king's men should chase them. Meanwhile, she has hidden the men under the flax drying on her roof (2:4); the writer uses the unusual word tizpeno, "she hid him" (even though there are two men), perhaps as an allusion to Exod 2:2, where Moses's mother hides her newborn (tizpenehu). Rahab is midwife and mother to Israel in its beginnings in Canaan.
Rahab lets the two men out through her window, which is in the town wall. She requests a return for her act of esed (NJPS, "I have shown loyalty"). She asks that she and her family be spared once the Israelites attack Jericho. The spies give her a crimson thread to hang from her window, with the injunction that she is to gather her family and wait inside her house; as long as they stay indoors, they will be spared. When the Israelites destroy Jericho, as described in Joshua, Rahab and her whole extended family indeed escape doom by waiting inside a house marked with a red thread, just as the Israelites who stayed in houses marked with the blood of the paschal lamb were spared the fate of the Egyptians. They are exempted from the erem, Israel's obligation to destroy all Canaanites (see 6:17), and are brought out of the city to live among the Israelites (6:25). Rahab and her family are a new Israel.
There is none righteous; not one.
Even when we were dead in our sins and enemies of God, Christ died for us.
We are all in the same "life boat" and the rescuer is the same for all of us.
Joshua 6:25.
Hebrews 11:31.