After finishing his address to the eastern tribes, Joshua secretly sends two trusted spies across the Jordan River. He sends them to one city–the city of Jericho. The Israelites were camped on the plains of Moab opposite Jericho, which is the first city they have to conquer in the promised land. Once inside the imposing walled city, the spies soon realise they are the most wanted men there. Humanly speaking, they are doomed!

But God provides them with an unexpected and surprising ally. Rahab the prostitute couldn't have grown up in a more pagan culture, yet she expresses a remarkable faith in the Lord God (Joshua 2:9-11). Do not miss her closing statement of faith: ″For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.″ What remarkable faith, indeed!

So why does the Lord God command the destruction of all of Rahab's people? The answer is found in Genesis 15. The Lord had already made a promise to Abram to give the land of Canaan to his descendants, who would become a great nation and a blessing to all (Genesis 12:1-7). In Genesis 15:13-20, God told him that his descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years (v. 13). Afterwards, ″your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure″ (v. 16). God's destruction of the Canaanites through the Israelites' conquest was His judgment upon them. It was His judgment for their horrific sins against Him and each other.

Who are these peoples whose horrific sins against their own families and neighbours regularly included incest, rape, violence, torture, and murder? They included the Hittites, Perizzites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites (vv. 19-21). Later, the Hivites were added to this list (Exodus 3:8, 17). The Lord had promised to drive out all these peoples (23:23; 33:2; 34:11) even though they were ″seven nations larger and stronger than you″ (Deuteronomy 7:1).

How cursed are these wicked people? After four centuries, they still have not repented. Instead, they have become evil through and through. Therefore, Moses says: ″Completely destroy them–the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites–as the Lord your God has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshipping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God″ (20:17-18).

In complete contrast with these peoples, Rahab turns to the Lord God of heaven and earth and trusts His purposes and protection for her family. What a great woman of faith, indeed.