The Daily Word of Righteousness

Preparing the Army of God, #18

Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: (Joshua 2:12)

Rahab was not married. She had no family of her own. She was concerned about her close relatives. She wanted them to be saved in the day of destruction.

As soon as we hear about Christ and become persuaded He is coming again to judge the peoples of the world, we grow concerned about the fate of our relatives and friends.

And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. (Joshua 2:13)

This is one of the greatest prayers of intercession to be found in the Scriptures.

One wonders what kind of attitude Rahab's relatives had toward her. Did they care for her? Did they cut her off because of her occupation? We do not know how they regarded her or treated her, but there may be a touching story here.

In any event, Rahab, who knew how to deal in business we can be sure, immediately began pressing for the safety of her immediate family. She asked for the life and possessions of her father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Would they have asked for her life and possessions? We shall find out some day.

If we will choose to put our faith in the Lord Jesus, and help Him in His war against His enemy, He will hear us when we ask for the salvation of our loved ones.

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. (Joshua 2:14)

Jesus is coming soon. The kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of God and of His Christ. If we will help the Lord now, while His enemies are being made His footstool, we will be dealt with in a kindly manner. If we do not help in the battle today we will be judged in the Day of the Lord.

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. (Joshua 2:15)

(Perhaps this is where the disciples in Damascus conceived the idea of delivering Saul of Tarsus by letting him down by the wall in a basket—Acts 9:25.)

We can get some idea of how thick the walls of Jericho were by the fact that Rahab's house was built on the wall and she lived on the wall.

No doubt there were other houses constructed on the wall and roads leading to the top of the wall. The surface of the wall must have been lined with spectators each day as the Israelites marched: the armed men, the seven priests blowing with the rams' horns, the Ark of the Covenant, and the rear guard of armed men.

This parade, and the blasts of the priests blowing the rams' horns, day after day for six days, may have proved to have been unnerving to the inhabitants of Jericho. Or they may have grown accustomed to it and have started to go about their business as usual.

On the seventh day their defense was stripped from them.

To be continued.