As we study this remarkable person we can learn much about the character of God. We will see that He is searching out for those whose faith is in Him. Above all, although God is a God of judgment, He is a God of mercy and grace as well. We must always keep in mind that God's mercy is never at the expense of His Holiness nor is it a sign of weakness. In fact it comes with the great power and strength of God leading us to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

1. First the Holy Spirit will convict people of sin, righteousness, and judgement just like a spy searching out and exposing the condition of the world in its opposition to God.

2. Second He is a messenger of blessing and hope to all those who fear God.

The miracle of Joshua 2:1 is that the spies went to the house of Rahab. It was the strongest part of Jericho, in the fortified wall; and she was probably, in the sight of man, the worst person in Jericho.

The work of God is soon noticed by the world, and it is to them something to be removed forcibly or otherwise. So it was in Jericho were there was great agitation when the king was informed and the army alerted to find the invaders

When the king demanded that Rahab give up her befriended spies she refuses. Today the situation is the same. As soon as the Spirit of God becomes active in His work as a spy in the heart of any person the hatred of God is activated and that person is pressurised to give up these silly notions. In Hebrews 11:31 the Word of God refers to these men as spies but in James 2:25 they are referred to as messengers. You see they came to convince Jericho of coming judgment but they came as the messenger of hope to Rahab.

This passage tells how Rahab befriended the spies at great risk to herself but above all she requests a favour of the spies.

Immediately it is safe to do so she went to the men and put her position to them.

She states her case and we see that she has become a believer in the God of Israel. She knows that it is inevitable that the armies of Israel will come into Jericho and execute judgement.

The history of the exodus through the Red Sea was real to her and she was aware of the destruction of the two kings of the Amorites. The judgement of God is real to her and now the axe is about to fall. She wants to escape.

In this verse she confessed her belief in the God of heaven and earth. She became a believer, and a seeker of mercy.

Mercy is requested on the ground of what she has done. On the surface it would appear that she is appealing for a reciprocal act to compensate for her saving the spies. The book of James is crystal clear as to the real motivating force which is faith and that faith promoted action. She believed God and she did what she did because she believed God.

A sure seal was required by Rahab that faith was rewarded. She then proceeded to intercede on behalf of her relatives. Faith makes her an intercessor. The believer receives the Holy Spirit as the seal of promise, Eph.1:13, and by new nature becomes an intercessor.

The spies gave her their promise and she has assurance that all will be well.

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

Immediately on receiving the sure promise she let them down the wall. Today His Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are born of God. Rom.8:16.

Rahab advised the spies as to a means of escaping the pursuers. They were to hide three days in the mountains. The mountains speak of communion with God and the three days speak of separation, death, burial, and resurrection.

The spies reaffirm their oath to Rahab. The witness of God is very sure.

The scarlet thread meant safety for everyone in the house. What was once a house of ill repute now becomes the very sanctuary of God the only safe place in all the world. John.3:16.

This remarkable chapter has many lessons for us, or rather illustrations of salvation by faith, and the result of that salvation. First we notice Rahab had a door and through that came the messengers of God.

First notice Rahab could well have closed the door on them and turned them away by shutting the door in their face. Not so Rahab, she recognised them as from God so she not only let them, but also gave them rest. They lodged there for they had something in common because God had already worked in her soul. Next we notice that she sided with the messengers against the people of Jericho. Further she protected them from the wrath of the power of Jericho. Normally to oppose the power of an ancient king meant almost instant death so we must look for the reason for Rahab's actions.

After the danger passed Rahab voiced her reasons for what she had done for the messengers. First in her mind was the fact that God owned the country and as it belonged to Him, He had in fact given it to his people. This meant that, as far as she was concerned, the king of Jericho had no rights whatsoever. She changed her allegiance to Jehovah and His people as graced worked in her heart.

Second she had no doubt whatsoever about the power and might of Jehovah, and coming judgement for Jericho was absolutely certain. There is no half heartedness about her at all. Now we have mentioned her change of allegiance, and her faith we find in verse 10 that she operated from the resurrection side of things. She related the bringing out of the people of Israel across the Red Sea which speaks of death, burial and resurrection. She had a whole new centre which was Jehovah Himself. She found she had no affinity with the people of Jericho. In fact we only read that her door admitted the spies and her whole family. We do not read that she admitted anything or anyone in from Jericho.

Third she told of the effect of the dealings of Jehovah with those opposed to Him. The utter destruction of and Sihon caused Jericho's heart to melt, and no more courage remained in them. She, on the other hand, had the courage to hide the spies from the king of Jericho.

These words and actions show just how faith in Jehovah affects those who believe. There is recognition of where ones true allegiance should lie, a courage to act accordingly, and above all a new heart to praise Him. Look at her words in verse 11; "The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath.

She believed in Him, praised Him, and pleads with Him to save her house and kindred. With this intercession from the heart a great God of mercy hears and assures. So it is with all His born again souls. From this time onward all her actions take place with her back, as it were, to the door which faced Jericho, and her face toward the window. She has a new outlook, indeed a heavenly one, and one which faced Israel and their God who was now her God.

Not only does the window represent a new outlook, but also there is the scarlet cord, a colour which represented the claims of Jehovah over the city. This was a cord which linked her to the people of Israel and their God.

We can look at the person and we see a woman who was totally immoral. One who was of the lowest order. We see her entrenched in the powerful wall of Jericho. She is surrounded by that which speaks of the religious world and all its power yet Jehovah finds a heart for Himself. It is not so much what she was, for we can all say, "all have sinned" but what God have given her faith. She believed, without question.

She believed what God said for we read in Heb. 11:13, "by faith the harlot Rahab perished not..." and in James 2:25 "was not Rahab the harlot justified by works". Her faith moved her to act according to her faith and according to the new spirit which she had as a believer.

Judgement came in this chapter. Israel surrounded Jericho, and it fell into their hands. So judgement is coming to this world, just as certainly, and just as surely as it did to Jericho. Indeed the time is at hand, all prophecy has been fulfilled, and the Lord is coming now! Do we believe it as surely as Rahab did? If you do your works will surely show your faith. You will turn from the world which is judged and totally opposed to the Lord.

Your works will separate you from the world and turn you towards the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will become the one who you will positively want to obey. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me." John 14:21. You will not be looking out of the door at the world and what it has to offer, but you will be looking out the window. That scene there is a heavenly one. One which keeps the heart and mind focused on the Lord Himself.

Let us look at the result of Rahab's faith. In this chapter verse 17, "only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent". What great grace and mercy our God has. The lowest, sunk into the very grip of sin, can be saved to love and serve the Lord.

What about Rahab's future? What a remarkable future! She married Salmon the father of Boaz. Further down her line we find the Lord Himself, Math.1:5. So here this poor miserable woman is saved, changed, then loved and worshiped her God. Her God lifted her up and made her an example of faith to all the people throughout all time by being enshrined in His word.

May we copy Rahab's faith, serve our Lord as well, and be an example for all who see. We pray this may be our portion.