If we’re looking at Joshua 6, the fall of Jericho is usually the featured attraction, and for good reason. The chapter is certainly framed that way and it’s in keeping with the overall narrative that is being developed in the book of Joshua—Israel possessing and taking Canaan in fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3,7).
Rahab usually gets mentioned at some point along the way—after all, you can’t tell the story of Jericho’s fall without acknowledging her contribution. But by in large, her part in Jericho’s fall is usually all we hear about her.
But what if we were making a movie franchise? The franchise would be called, The Jericho Story. The first movie would be about the fall of Jericho. This would bring the people in and be the big, action packed adventure, blockbuster movie to kick things off. It would be the flagship movie that every franchise needs.
But what if I told you it might not be the best or even most important movie of the franchise? That would be the second movie—The Rescue of Rahab. I’m saying this because Rahab not only deserves her own story, but when you look at her story—really look at it, it’s like that old children’s song—deep and wide.
Rahab’s role in the invasion of Jericho (counter-intelligence/military advisor)
The Rescue of Rahab would begin with a flashback to the first movie. Since we knew the next movie was going to be about Rahab, in the first movie we were purposely vague about her role in the fall of Jericho. In essence, we just shared about her what Joshua 6 does—that when Jericho fell, Rahab the prostitute and her family were spared. In the first act of The Rescue of Rahab, we’d want to develop Rahab’s character, so we’d start with what we’re told in Joshua 2.
We’d begin with the camera panning over a sign that reads, Rahab’s Airbnb, because while Rahab was certainly a prostitute, she also lodged people in her home. For certain people, these two businesses would overlap, but for others like the two Israelite spies, it obviously wouldn’t. Nonetheless it would be important to show both these aspects of Rahab to understand the Jericho story in a fuller, deeper way.
And what a lodging place Rahab had! She had a casement home—it was inside the wall of Jericho (2:15). This home had roof access as well (2:6). It wasn’t your everyday dwelling!
By the way, how do you go about obtaining a home inside the wall of Jericho?Obviously, not just everyone gets to live in such a unique and strategic location. And in Rahab’s case, it was an ideal location for her business.
The text doesn’t tell us this, but we’d use some artistic license to show the King of Jericho making a deal with Rahab—he would allow her use of the casement home for her business if in turn, she would supply him with any information she heard from the travelers who stayed there. After all, in her dual roles, Rahab would be privy to lots of information—she would have her finger on the pulse of everyone who came to visit Jericho. As such, she would be of great use to the king.
Then one day the two spies showed up and this is where our story gets really interesting. Rather than turn the spies over the king as we might expect, Rahab hides them. One of the reasons she hides them is because she has heard from her travelers quite a bit about the Israelites who are headed their way. She has heard about what God did for them at the Red Sea. She has heard about Israel defeating the two kings on the other side of the Jordan. Based on what she has heard, Rahab is convinced that should they come to Jericho, the Israelites will be able to capture the city.
Therefore, she helps the spies with an evasive maneuver, provides counter-intelligence to the king and his men, and military advice to the spies so they will have a safe return home. Part of the reason she is doing all these things is because she has family: a father, mother, brothers, and sisters (2:13). When Jericho is invaded, she asks that the spies make sure she and her family are spared. The spies (who aren’t in that great of a position to negotiate) agree, “Our lives for your lives” (v. 14). So, when the walls fall in Joshua 6, Rahab is rewarded for her role in helping Israel invade Jericho by having her life and that of her family spared.
So from the first act of our story, we’d learn that the Jericho Story was about Israel taking their first step into the land of Canaan and as a savvy business woman, Rahab had a part in that.
But there’s more to the story.
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 