Through Joshua’s command to the Israelites, Rahab and everyone in her house was spared. Remember, this chesed protected not only Rahab but everyone in her house. We cannot pretend that who we surround ourselves with does not affect our destiny.
How exactly did the Israelites end up defeating Jericho? I feel like I remember something about a wall falling. We sing that in church.
Alright so let’s check Joshua 6.
3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Hold on, the wall collapsed. As in flat, wow. But that doesn’t make sense for Rahab. She lived on the wall so wouldn’t that destroy her house and everyone in it?
You’d think that, but God has a way of making the impossible happen. While everything else crumbled around them, Rahab and her family were safe. We know this because in Joshua 2:18-19 Rahab was specifically instructed to bring her family into her house if she wanted to be spared.
But how was she spared? Are you telling me that the wall fell all around us but she and those in her home was safe?
I wasn’t there, of course, but I think you can infer that it wasn’t the entire wall which fell. Rahab and her family escaped unscathed despite that they were hidden inside the city wall. After the collapse the Israelites proceed straight in, which could suggest it was the part of the wall in front of them which actually collapsed, allowing them to enter. See most of the people in the city of Jericho didn’t die directly from the wall collapsing. The wall collapsing gave the Israelites the opportunity to attack.
Joshua 2:19 describes the scenes: 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible.
How did they avoid the area where Rahab was living?
There’s nothing to suggest they did. They walked around the walls as instructed by the Lord. We have no reason to believe that once they reached Rahab’s area, they paused and turned back. The Israelites followed God’s battle plan and let Him take care of the smaller details. Rahab wasn’t saved by the actions of the Israelites, but more so by the intervention and direction of God.
Wow imagine the scenes. The walls collapsed. People are getting slaughtered all around you. But God’s like, be still, don’t worry, I’ve got you.
When we align ourselves with God’s purpose, He can take care of us wherever we are. Your aunt who lives in a bad neighbourhood. He’ll take care of that. Your job, where everyone around you is being made redundant. He’s got it covered. That boy who’s entered your life and just won’t act right. Yep him too. He’s got a solution for that. He can do this because God covers His friends. Whatever the situation. Whatever the problem. Whatever the chances. He’s got you.
My Sunday Skl 