What role does faith play in the agreement made in Joshua 2:14? Setting the Scene in Joshua 2 • Israel’s two spies enter Jericho and lodge with Rahab (Joshua 2:1). • Rahab hides them from the king’s men, then testifies to God’s mighty acts (vv. 8-11). • The spies pledge protection for her household if she keeps silent and ties the scarlet cord (vv. 12-21). Listening to Rahab’s Faith • Rahab’s confession: “For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:11). • She turns from Jericho’s idols to the living God, believing He will give Israel the land—before a single wall falls. • Hebrews 11:31 underscores this: “By faith Rahab the prostitute, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.” Faith Shapes the Agreement • Foundation: Both sides root their pledge in the character of God. – Rahab trusts God’s coming victory (“when the LORD gives you the land,” v. 12). – The spies invoke God’s faithfulness: “Our lives for yours… we will treat you kindly and faithfully” (v. 14). • Content: A literal, conditional covenant—Rahab’s silence and scarlet cord in exchange for protection. • Assurance: Faith converts fear into mutual confidence; without it, the promise would lack any basis. Faith Expressed Through Works • Rahab’s works (hiding the spies, tying the cord) verify her faith—James 2:25 highlights this union. • The spies’ obedience in sparing her family underlines their faith in God’s word through Moses to show mercy to outsiders who believe (cf. Exodus 12:48-49). Faith Rewarded and Remembered • Joshua 6:22-25 records the literal fulfillment: Rahab and her household are saved while Jericho falls. • She is grafted into Israel and later into Messiah’s genealogy (Matthew 1:5), proving God honors believing Gentiles. Lessons for Today • True faith recognizes God’s sovereignty before circumstances change. • Faith enters covenant, stakes everything on God’s promise, and then acts accordingly. • God delights to rescue anyone—regardless of past—who trusts Him, and He keeps covenant “kindly and faithfully” (Joshua 2:14). |
    |