The Story of Rahab

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The Story of Rahab

Joshua 1:1-3

When Moses died, Joshua became theleader of God's people. Once theywere camped on the shores of theRiver Jordan, Joshua called two of hisbest men to a secret meeting. Theywere brave and clever soldiers. "I havea secret mission for you," he said.

The two men liked secret missions."I want you to spy on the landacross the river. Sneak into the city ofJericho. Find out how strong it is.Find out if the people are ready tofight us and how many soldiers theyhave. See what types of weapons theyuse. Are they made of bronze or iron?Then come back and tell me. After wecross the River Jordan, we'll attackJericho."

The men nodded. That afternoonthe two spies slipped into the city. Itwas surrounded by great thick walls.At night the gates were closed tight.Guards patrolled the tops of the walls.The men walked by a group ofsoldiers. One of them turned andshouted, "Hey, who are those twostrangers?"

"They look like Israelites!""Stop! Spies! Those two men arespies, stop them!"

The two could hear the crowdcrashing after them. They turned firstthis way, then that. They dashedthrough the narrow streets, trying tofind a place to hide.

"In here!" someone whispered. Themen stopped and looked up. They sawa woman hanging out of a windowabove them. "In here." She pointed atthe door below her. Joshua's spiesopened the door and ran in.

The Israelite spies looked around.They saw the woman standing on theother side of the room. "I will hideyou," she said. "Follow me."

The Jericho woman led the spies upto the roof of her house. She showedthem where to hide. The spies waiteduntil it became dark.

When the king of Jericho hadheard about the spies, he ordered hissoldiers to search the city. Soon theyreached the house where the spieswere hiding.

The soldiers entered the woman'shouse. When they questioned her, shetold them, "Yes, they were here, butnow they're gone. If you hurry, youcan still catch them."

The guards clattered out of thehouse. They rushed out of the gate just before it closed for the night. Now nomatter what, they could not comeback in until the next morning.

"Quickly," the woman called to theIsraelites. "Quickly, now is yourchance. Hurry and leave while theguards are gone."

The two men climbed out of theirhiding place. "I know all about youpeople of Israel," she said. "God is onyour side. He blesses whatever you do.All the men in Jericho are scared tofight you.

"If I help you escape, will youremember me and not harm me whenyou take Jericho?"

"Our lives for yours," the menreplied. "Yes, we'll save you if youhelp us get out of here." The womannodded. Then she led them up anotherset of stairs.

The men climbed the narrow stepsuntil they reached a tiny room. "Here,this is how you will escape," thewoman said. She pointed at a smallwindow. That side of the house wasactually part of the wall surroundingJericho. The woman gave the spiessome rope. "If you climb out here,you'll land on the outside of the city.Go into the hills. Stay hidden for threedays."

The man took the rope from her."What is your name?"

"I am Rahab."

"Rahab, when Israel attacks, tiethis red rope to the window. We'llmake sure no one living here gets hurtwhen we attack Jericho."

The other spy growled, "But if youtell and we are caught, you'll get nomercy from our army."

She nodded. The men opened thewindow and fastened the red cord to apillar. Slowly they lowered themselvesout of the house. They bounced

against the wall with their feet. Whenthey reached the ground, no alarmhad sounded. They disappeared intothe darkness. Rahab pulled the ropeback inside. She knew it was her ticketto safety. If God wanted the people ofIsrael to capture Jericho, then they -----surely would.

The spies from Israel hid for threedays. Once they knew they were safe,they ran back to camp and reported toJoshua.

"It's too good to be true," the mensaid. "This woman who helped us saidall the men in Jericho were afraid ofus. The city is ours."

Then the three men bowed theirheads and thanked God for helpingthem. When Joshua finished prayinghe looked at his men.

"We will invade Jericho a few daysfrom now. Today, though, is the dayfor which we have waited so long." Atfirst his officers did not understandwhat he meant. Then a huge grinstretched itself across Joshua's beardedface. "Today is the day the Lord willlead us into the promised land!" Themen took up the call and ran to theother leaders. They told the news toeveryone in the camp. Soon it spreadfrom one end to the other, "Today isthe day!"

The people were so excited. Theyhad hoped for and counted down thedays. Forty years of wandering were over!

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