Rahab lied and got blessed – thus it must be OK to lie.Sorry but no.Then how can we account for this?
Who was wrong?Was Joshua told to send the spies?
Where the spies right in going to the house of a prostitute? What did they do there?Was Rahab justified by lying?
Well there is no mention of God saying “Send spies” But that doesn’t necessarily mean it was wrong. But it wasn’t a command from God as far as we know. Maybe, just maybe it was Joshua’s idea. Joshua has been severely criticized by some, regarded him as here acting according to a commonsense policy, that was dictated by unbelief. They argue that he should have trusted the Lord wholly, instead of sending spies. I’m not sure I agree with this line of thinking, Joshua did what Joshua knew. He was a soldier and commander. They send scouts out to see what is ahead of them.As well as that, Joshua had a good precedent for acting as he did, Moses had sent forth spies to view
Canaan on a former occasion (Numbers13) Joshua was one of them. And Joshua had been ordered to regulate his conduct by
“this Book of the Law… to do according to all that is written therein” (Joshua 1:7,8),and that was one of the things recorded in the book of the law! It was kind of like ‘looked before he leaped” to ascertain the lay-out of Jericho, to discover if there was a weak spot in its defenses to learn the best point at which to attack, and make his plans accordingly. He was discharging his responsibility. There is much misunderstanding today about the scope of those words“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5),Only too often fanaticism is confounded with faith. I think sometimes we need to exercise our God given commonsense and still count upon God’s providence And guidance just the same. Joshua had a similar view of obedience to God that Oliver Cromwell had when he told his men “Trust in God, and keep your powder dry”. Faith does not release us from our natural obligations.
The other issue here is that the spies were not told to go to a prostitute. That was against their belief structure. In fact they put Rahab in a compromising position. They were told to spy - not lie. But was this just a good strategy? Visiting a prostitute was a no no for them.
This part of the passage has presented some difficulties to not just me this week but to a heap of scholars over the years and perhaps we can best help by seeking to answer the following questions:First, did Rahab do right in defying the her king’s authority and betrayingher own country?Second, is she to be exonerated in the untruths she here told?Third, if not, how isHebrews 11:31 to be explained?“Let every soul be subject unto the powers that be, for there is nopower but of God” (Romans 13:1).
Rahab lied to save the guys. How do we know God wouldn’t have used a miracle to save them if she hadn’t of lied? Again we don’t. Some have pointed out the exceptionally compromising position in which Rahab found herself, saying that considerable latitude should be allowed her because she didn’t have the law or a relationship to God to know any better. We are aware that people often think that “Circumstances alter cases”, or end justifies the means. We do know, that no “circumstances” can ever obliterate the fundamental distinction between good and evil. It is never right to do wrong and since it is sinful to lie, no circumstances can ever warrant the telling of one. She had been reared in heathendom: yet it certainly did not excuse her. One preacher who occupied a prominent pulpit in
London asked the question, “Was Rahab justified inthose falsehoods?” and answered in the affirmative, arguing “She musteither utter them or else betray the spies, and their lives would have beenlost”. But that the reasoning of unbelief, for it leaves out God. Had Rahabremained silent before the king’s officers declining to give any information,or had she acknowledged that the spies were on her premises, was theLord unable to protect them?”
All this does show that God uses all situations for peoples good. He doesn’t like some things we do, so he uses them to teach us.James points out that the faith of Rahab was “justified by works” — not byher “words” — and then specified which “works”, namely, her receiving ofthe messengers and her sending them out another way. But, it may beasked, Did not the workings of providence in the sequel go to show Godapproved of Rahab’s policy? God indeed graciously overruled Rahab’s conduct, yet that did not make her lie right.We frankly acknowledge — though to our shame, that if we were placed in asimilar situation to the one which confronted Rahab, we would acquit ourselves no better than she did, and probably fare worse. Yet that acknowledgement by no means clears her, for two wrongs do not make one right. Therefore none is in any position to point the finger of scorn or throw a stone at her.
Rahab’s life was different from the Jews. Different set of standards, but she recognized God working.
JOS 2:8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
She had heard about God’s actions and was impressed. She wanted to save her life and her family. God was her only hope. She somehow recognized that fact. She had a faith in God’s capabilities to effect change on her life.Notice she is remembered in history for her what? Her lie – no her faith. “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31).Notice it says that people are melting with fear. . 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.Why are they scared? Because the Lord is God! Not because of any great army but because of God. She has the perspective right. The Lord is God. He is to be feared. God had promised the Jews that he would frighten the people they where to conquer.“This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of youupon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hearreport of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you”(Deuteronomy 2:25).That was literally fulfilled in the case of the inhabitants of
Jericho.
What was the difference between her and the rest of the people of
Jericho???It is clear from her words “I know that the Lord hath givenyou the land” that she had both heard and believed the promises which Hehad made to Abraham and his seed, and perceiving He was a gracious andgiving God, she had started to recognize God for who He is.Observe how definite and confident was the tone of her language. There was no“if” or “perhaps”, no dubious “I hope”, but instead, a sure and positive “Iknow” (v9) That was the knowledge of a saving faith. It is true that faith andassurance may be distinguished, yet they can no more be separated thancan faith and obedience. Faith without works is dead, and faith withoutassurance is something of which I can find no mention inScripture.
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