In Joshua we meet Rahab the harlot. In understanding how a prostitute could be such a hero in the story of the battle of Jericho (chapter 6), and to be heroic because of her lying, we need to understand the difference between the expressed will of God and the permissive will of God. the expressed will of God says to not lie. Rahab lied to the soldiers who came looking for the Israeli spies who were on the rooftop of her house. In lying, she sinned. But it turned out okay because God used that situation to return the spies to Joshua and the rest of Israel who were waiting outside the city.

Does that mean that as long as everything turns out okay, it is all right to break God's law? No, and we should not plan to do evil that good might come of it (Romans 6: 1, 12). But God can use sin to further a good purpose. If Rahab had told the truth about the spies being in her house, God would have had another way to make Jericho fall. God is not dependent upon our petty interpretations of right and wrong to make His will prevail. His ability to make good come out of evil is sometimes referred to as the permissive will of God. As we said in class, murder is wrong, and the killing of the Christ has to rank as the worst sin man ever did. God had to look the other way (the darkening of the skies at the crucifixion) for Christ to be killed. But there had to be some way for Jesus to be sacrificed in order for the blood payment for the sins of all of us to be paid. In the blind, unreasoning anger of man in A.D. 33, the sacrifice was accomplished.

In Joshua 2, the spies make a deal with Rahab about how she can be saved from the onslaught of the oncoming Israeli invasion: (1) get all you loved ones inside your house and (2) hang a scarlet (red) cord outside your window, which was on the wall of Jericho and facing outwards. The deal offered Rahab is not unlike the deal God offers us today: Teach all the people you can, and show your true colors as one of God's people.

1. Is it ordinarily a good idea to lie?

 

2. Rahab lied, but is remembered as a great herione. How can her lying about the location of the spies be justified?

 

3. What would have happened to Rahab if she had ventured outside her house (apartment) while Israel was taking Jericho?