The Spy Who Loved Me: Rahab Part 1

Our names become our labels. When we were picking names for our children it was really a big deal because we knew of the stereotypes that went with each name. When we picked Peggy – I knew that people would call her “Piggy”, Peg-leg, and of course Peggy Sue. Would that bother her? I am happy to say she embraced those nick names - had Peg leg in glitter on her softball helment, never winces at Piggy or Miss Piggy – she is fortunate to be skinny as a rail. And when we hear the Buddy Hall we know she is breaking in to a dance around the room because they are playing her song.

An incident can also bring about your label. Rahab was the type of woman that was talked about but not talked to. Some labels come from an incident that isn’t forgotten. Some names that we will always remember for their actions are those like Monica Lewinski, Lorena Bobbitt, and OJ Simpson. Poor Rahab – no matter what happened – she will forever be remembered as Rahab the prostitute.

The Israel was looking for the land of milk and honey. They were God believing, God directed, and God following people. They have been with the power of the Lord conquering cities of idol worshiping people. The stories about their victories – parting of the Red Sea – were well known. Jericho was going to be a benchmark. They had already destroyed two kings of the Amorites. Sihon and Og were also destroyed.

The city was built above one of the largest springs in Palestine and stood as one of the major cities in the Jordan Valley. It was the key to the defense of all the western plain of Palestine. The city was surrounded by two walls. The outer was 6 feet thick and 20 feet high. The inner wall was about 12 feet thick and was 30 feet high. Between the walls was about 15 feet. One wall was the old wall and one was a newer wall. Many of the homes were built between these walls with the front of the house being the inner wall and the back of the house the outer wall. Rahab’s Inn was built like this. Imagine how an Israelite felt seeing this city. It must have looked impossible. They knew of victories but would they win again.We are living in days of battle and spiritual struggles too. There are walls in our lives: lost love one that we’d like to see the Lord touch and save, a ministry we feel inadequate about, family trouble that tears our hearts and leaves us wondering what to do, financial trouble, a besetting sin that constantly crops up in our lives, or any of a million things. We must learn not to look upon our obstacles as dead-ends but as opportunities for the lord to work in our lives. We need to know how to fight. We need to know how to follow HIM to that victory.

Joshua sent to spies to Jericho to case the place out. The King knew that they were more than likely coming. He sent men to try to find them. To me this whole story is beginning to sound like one of those James Bond movies – perhaps – The Spy who Loved Me. Bad Girl- meets the spies – helps them and they rescue her and her family in the end. Later she marries one of the spies. The Lord divinely led these men to Rahab specifically. It was not by chance. Rahab was the Devine Star of this spy story. Think of why God’s plan worked so well. Rahab knew men. She knew how to talk to them, she knew how to quickly size them up to determine if they were OK or not.. she knew how to quickly discern what they wanted. Her Inn was the perfect place to hide. Strangers were coming and going at all times. Lots of traffic in the area. People there weren’t the type to ask each other a lot of questions. The high roof offered a vantage point for a spy.

Can’t you just picture this scene. The spies arrive and Rahab answers the door. They come in probably still wet from crossing the Jordan river that was a few miles before. They had a different accent and looked different than the locals. Spies always have a different look and a different accent.

She probably saw them at arrival as a divinely ordained duo saving her from death. Not her physical death but her spiritual death. She had been a prisoner of these walls – the reputation walls – the label walls – the stereotype walls – for so long. Have you ever felt these type of walls keeping you from freedom? Keeping you from your dreams? The soldiers are seen coming and she motions for them to come on in the Inn. Quickly she tells them to hid on the roof. (Don’t you know she has had to hide many a man there before.) The soldiers knock. Joshua 2:3 Bring out the men who come to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land. To me they implied that she may loose her life if she did not cooperate. She tells them that yes – they had been here but they are gone. I can just see her “I dunno” blank look and then giving them the “they went that away” . I can just see her closing that door and then turning around and leaning on it taking that deep breath and saying “Whew that was a close one!” Part two coming soon!

Happy New Year!

It is a New Year and a year where good and great things will be happening in our family. Pictured here are my husband Joe, the most important person in my life, and the two kids - Joseph (17) and Peggy (15). We also have a crazy dog named Duce. I hope you all will be enjoying the blog entries I add this year but writing is really not my thing. Joe would love to be my editor but correcting the past entries is really a bore. So please put up with the typos and and the spelling errors. My first love is sharing with groups about living and being led by the the Lord. That is why my blog has it's title. I love the serene conversations and guidance that comes from taking a long but still time with my Lord. It seems each time someone asks me to come give a little lesson....I just have an amazing experience with the Lord and he guides me in the Lesson that is to be shared. It is hard to discribe the closeness that is experienced in researching for those lessons and I am so filled by the experience. I have also added my theme verse for this year. I think the Lord had actually breathed this verse to express that he would provide food and nourishment for His people every day. For me, it had an additional meaning. If I rely on Him - he will give me the words to speak and share with others. I added speaking dates to the blog because people ask for them. I hope you enjoy my blog.