A Just and Merciful God. Part [8] 03/24/2025 (Morning thought)

Joshua 2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I know not. Pursue after them quickly; for you shall overtake them. 6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which  she had laid in order upon the roof.

Now, according to a strict rendition of the letter of the law, Rahab was lying, hands down no doubt, but even though God does not approve of, nor sanctions lying in any way shape or form, the fact that Rahab was cooperating with God in the matter, should be  enough to settle the issue in our minds. In addition to this, if God was in it, that should then be sufficient for the reader of the narrative, because what God does, or permits, in this or that situation has to be always understood in the context of His overarching Sovereignty.

Daniel 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most-High, and I praised and honored him that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

In fact, Rahab goes on to be mentioned as one of the heroes of faith in the Bible, not for her ways and means, but rather for her cooperation with God and her upright motives. Again, if God was involved with it, then that settles it period, even if the letter of the law comes into question.

Hebrews 11: 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

A Just and Merciful God. Part [7] 03/24/2025 (Evening thought)

Joshua 2: 3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

The King of Jericho gets wind of the spies’ intrusion and he sends the relevant authorities to investigate the matter, in particular to find out the whereabouts of the spies who had gone to Rahab’s house. When asked directly of their whereabouts, Rahab uttered a series of lies in order to cover the tracks of the spies, and also to ensure her own safety. Now, in the strictest letter of the law, what she did was to lie outright to the authorities.

But God who reads the heart understands that she is not where she ought to be just yet spiritually, and as such, whatever we may think or conclude about her ways and means, the bigger picture is that she was cooperating with God, by exercising faith, the best way she knew how. The right thing to say, from a Scriptural perspective, would be for her to tell the authorities that the men were hiding upstairs among the stalks.

Now, think about that for a moment, especially in the context of what is currently taking place across the land. The authorities come knocking on your door looking for someone, and, in reply to their questions about the whereabouts of the person or the individuals in question, you respond by saying to them that the persons are hiding upstairs in your house.

Joshua 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, there came men unto me, but I do not know whence they were.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!