Joshua 6:15-19: a reflection

15On the seventh day, they rose early at the dawning of the day, and marched around the city in the same way seven times. On this day only they marched around the city seven times. 16At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city! 17The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is in it, to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18But as for you, only keep yourselves from what is devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so you would make the camp of Israel accursed and trouble it. 19But all the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD. They shall come into the LORD’s treasury.”

As the walls of Jericho fall and the city is given over to destruction, one household is singled out to be spared: Rahab and all who are with her in her house. Only Rahab the prostitute shall live, Joshua says, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. In the midst of the city's fall, Rahab, who had trusted the God of Israel and sheltered his messengers, was remembered and rescued. She had a past that the account does not hide; yet because she trusted God and helped his people, she was spared when the city fell. God remembered the one who had turned to him and shown kindness to his people, and rescued her in the midst of judgment.

Notice who was spared, and why: Rahab, because she had trusted God and sheltered his messengers. She was not spared for her past, which the account names plainly; she was spared because she had turned to the God of Israel and shown kindness to his people, hiding the messengers. In the midst of the city's fall, God remembered her faith and her kindness, and rescued her and her household. Grace reached into the falling city and drew out the one who had trusted God. Her past did not disqualify her; her trust in God marked her out for mercy. God remembered the one who turned to him, even amid judgment, and spared her. The grace shown to Rahab was grace toward one who had trusted God despite her past, rescued when the city around her fell.

That is worth resting in, for God remembers and rescues those who turn to him and trust him, whatever their past. We can feel that our past disqualifies us from God's mercy, that we are beyond rescue; but Rahab, whose past the account names plainly, was spared because she trusted God and helped his people. God remembered her faith, not her past, and rescued her when the city fell. Whatever our past, if we turn to God and trust him, he remembers and rescues. Do not think your past puts you beyond God's mercy; he remembered and rescued Rahab, who trusted him, amid the falling city. Trust that God remembers and rescues those who turn to him, whatever their past, as he spared Rahab, who had trusted him and sheltered his messengers, when Jericho fell; for her past did not disqualify her, but her trust in God marked her out for mercy, and God reached into the falling city to rescue the one who had turned to him, remembering her faith rather than her past.

Lord, as the walls of Jericho fall and the city is given over to destruction, one household is singled out to be spared: Rahab and all who are with her in her house. Only Rahab shall live, Joshua says, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. In the midst of the city's fall, Rahab, who had trusted the God of Israel and sheltered his messengers, was remembered and rescued. She had a past that the account does not hide; yet because she trusted you and helped your people, she was spared when the city fell. Show me who was spared, and why: Rahab, because she had trusted you and sheltered your messengers. She was not spared for her past, which the account names plainly; she was spared because she had turned to you and shown kindness to your people. In the midst of the city's fall, you remembered her faith and her kindness, and rescued her and her household. Grace reached into the falling city and drew out the one who had trusted you. Her past did not disqualify her; her trust in you marked her out for mercy. Let me rest in that, for you remember and rescue those who turn to you and trust you, whatever their past. I can feel that my past disqualifies me from your mercy, that I am beyond rescue; but Rahab, whose past the account names plainly, was spared because she trusted you. Whatever my past, if I turn to you and trust you, you remember and rescue. Keep me from thinking my past puts me beyond your mercy; you remembered and rescued Rahab, who trusted you, Lord, and you remember the faith of those who turn to you rather than their past.