A Very Special Designation

Scripture: However, Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family, and all who belonged to her, because she hid the messengers Joshua had sent to spy on Jericho, and she still lives in Israel today. Joshua 6:25

Observation: In the defeat of Jericho, Rahab is called out multiple times in special ways. She had hid the spies, and thus was saved from destruction along with her entire family. However, more than that, Joshua himself gives special commands about her, and there is detail about where she is taken. In the last line about this, it is explicitly said that "she still lives in Israel today."

There are questions about when this was written. Tradition says Joshua wrote the book of Joshua himself, and thus the idea that Rahab continued to live with Israel isn't shocking. Others would indicate that the book would have had an oral tradition - not written - for nearly 700 years, and therefore it is curious that, when it was first written, this line about Rahab still living was kept. Either way, however, there is a special designation and attention being given to Rahab and to her wellbeing. Once again, regardless of when the information was recorded, the author has decided to highlight a relatively meaningless event, surrounding a rather meaningless person, for what appears to be no reason at all.

However, over a millennia later, that reason will be revealed, as Rahab is an ancestor of Jesus, called out in Joseph's genealogy by Matthew.

Application: As I previously discussed about the circumstances surrounding Judah and Tamar, the scriptures contain information about irrelevant details, that then don't become relevant until Jesus is born. In the case of Rahab, we have a prostitute whom helped out Israel in scouting Jericho (and as a side note, the scouting was completely, 100 percent pointless, accomplishing nothing, as the Lord had his own plan and no intelligence was used in any way), and thus she was not killed. From this, she becomes the second or third most important person documented surrounding this most notable victory of Israel entering the promised land.

Again I say it, this type of writing detail cannot be accidental, and cannot be intentionally performed by men operating independently across centuries and centuries of time. Only the Lord can author such a narrative.

Prayer: Lord, your word remains alive for me. As I meditate on the meaning of all you have to teach me, I am very aware of how accurate and true that teaching is, because there is no way it cannot be true. I refuse to believe the lies of this world, and rely upon your truth. Thank you for your word. Amen.