Saving The Spies

Saving the Spies

Q: Where did Rahab hide the spies?

• a. in her basement
• b. under the bed
• c. on the roof of her house

The Israelites were on the doorstep of the Promised Land just as they’d been 40 years earlier. This time they were eager to claim their land and settle into permanent homes.

Joshua sent two spies to cross the Jordan River and enter Jericho, the first major city the Israelites would have to defeat. The spies entered Jericho and went to the home of Rahab, who lived in a house on the wide wall surrounding the city. It would give them a chance to look over the city and decide the best way to defeat it.

The men were noticed, and the king was informed they were there. The king sent his men after the spies, but Rahab hid the men under flax stored in a pile on her roof. She told the king’s men, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from. They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don’t know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them.”

Rahab lied, but it saved the men’s lives. Some people wonder why God blessed Rahab even though she lied. But in the danger of the moment, who knows what a person might say to save someone’s life? People often lie to enemies during wartime. Rahab also didn’t know God’s laws about lying, and in her society, lying happened. It doesn’t make it right, but it might explain why God didn’t judge her for it.

Because Rahab protected the men, they agreed to keep her safe when they overthrew the city.

For You

God used Rahab in spite of her lie. That just goes to show that God is bigger than our sin, and when we mess up, he can make something good out of the mess.

Answer: c

Rahab had hidden the two men. . . . Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.   Joshua 2:4, 6

(The Whole Story: Joshua 2)