What does Joshua 6:17 teach about God's sovereignty over nations and individuals? The Verse in Context “Now the city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.” (Joshua 6:17) Key Observations • God issues the command, not Joshua or Israel’s generals. • An entire city-state is placed under the ban (“devoted to the LORD for destruction”). • One household—Rahab’s—is singled out for preservation. • The criteria for rescue are set by God (“because she hid the spies we sent”). God’s Sovereignty over Nations • Jericho’s fate is sealed by divine decree; human plans cannot overturn it (Psalm 33:10-11). • God alone determines when a nation rises or falls (Daniel 2:21; Acts 17:26). • The command to devote the city shows absolute ownership: “The earth is the LORD’s” (Psalm 24:1). • Deuteronomy 9:4-5 affirms that Canaanite judgment was God’s righteous act, not Israel’s might. God’s Sovereignty over Individuals • Rahab is chosen for life within a doomed culture—personal mercy inside corporate judgment. • Her rescue is rooted in her faith (Joshua 2:9-11), later celebrated in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25. • God’s freedom to show compassion echoes Romans 9:15-18: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy.” • The same sovereign word that destroys a city secures one family, underscoring His personal care. Judgment and Mercy Intertwined • Both flows from one source: “Behold then the kindness and severity of God” (Romans 11:22). • The ban demonstrates holy wrath; Rahab’s salvation highlights steadfast love. • Together they reveal a consistent biblical pattern (e.g., Genesis 19: Lot vs. Sodom; Exodus 12: Israelites vs. Egyptians). Human Responsibility under Divine Sovereignty • Israel must march, shout, and spare Rahab exactly as instructed—obedience is the appointed means. • Rahab must gather her family inside the scarlet-marked house—faith acts in line with God’s promise. • Divine sovereignty never negates human duty; it grounds and directs it (Proverbs 21:1; Philippians 2:12-13). Living in Light of Joshua 6:17 • Trust God’s ultimate rule over world events; no nation is beyond His reach. • Remember His intimate awareness of individuals; He sees and saves the one who believes. • Rest in the harmony of judgment and mercy displayed at the cross, where Christ bore wrath and secured salvation (Isaiah 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • Walk in obedient faith, confident that the same sovereign Lord orders both the sweeping movements of history and the smallest details of personal life. |
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