Hiding the Enemy | Joshua 2:4-7
Living Fearlessly
Daily Reading:
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; so she said, “Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
5 When it was time to close the [city] gate at dark, the men left; I do not know where they went. Pursue them quickly, for [if you do] you will overtake them.”
6 But [in fact] she had brought the scouts up to the roof and had hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof [to dry].
7 So the [king’s] men pursued them on the road to the Jordan as far as the fords [east of Jericho]; as soon as the pursuers had gone out after them, the gate [of the city] was shut.
This passage set today was more profound than it seemed at first to me. Imagine living in a heavenly protected space where at night no one you didn't know walked the streets. Then one day you willingly give refuge to two outsiders and lie to the ruler of the land.
Rahab made a choice to open her doors to the outsiders that had been living outside of their walls, knowing the king's men she hid the men on her roof out of danger and directed her protectors out of the gates.
She removed her protection while protecting strangers, I don't think she would have done that if she was sure she was safe with them. I wouldn't!
If the choice was made not to house them, what would the story of Joshua look like? Rahab was prepared for the moment with no incentive but to trust God more than she trusted herself and her king.
Even the spies, how were they led there and a door be opened onto them? How did they know they were safe?
She chose to house strangers in her protected land from her protectors. God.