“An unlikely hero”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Monday, July 15, 2024 Joshua 2: 1-14 (Forward, p. 78) CEV p. 209

Many Biblical scholars have commented on how some very unlikely, even unsavory, characters ‘happened’ to make it into Jesus’ family tree as depicted by Matthew (see Matthew 1:1-17). There is Tamar, who seduced her father-in-law, there is Ruth, the Moabite, there is Bathsheba, Solomon’s wife by his adulterous affair, and then there is Rahab, the unlikely hero of today’s account.

Here she is described as a prostitute, which doesn’t seem to have quite the same negative connotations as it does today. Actually, it is more likely that she was an innkeeper, which quite naturally led to some speculation, some suppositions that she engaged in ‘other’ activities as well. And, being an innkeeper, it would naturally explain the comings and goings of strangers, travellers, on a regular basis. And the fact that her dwelling was built into the city wall (see verse15) made it even more natural as an inn.

It also seems that Rahab was well-versed in the local gossip, in current doings both near and afar, which only seems natural given her occupation. She knows of Israel’s past activities (the parting of the Red Sea, for instance, and its defeat of the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og) and she knows how demoralized the people of Jericho are in response to these things.

Somehow, she has become convinced that the God of Israel rules heaven and earth and that, as a result, Israel will come out on top. And so she decides to throw in her lot with them. So, of her own volition, she decides to risk her life by hiding them on her roof and then letting them out to safety once the arresting soldiers have left.

So, not only is she a hero of the faith, but an unlikely one. Who would have ever expected a foreigner, a pagan, a person of questionable reputation, to come to faith in our living God—and, to put that faith into practice in such a risky, foolhardy way? But then, faith appears in unlikely places, and we would be best to be ready for it, to acknowledge it and build upon it, anywhere we find it. And, not only, that—something that we could quite easily miss—those spies also put their lives in her hands and trusted her, which in itself was quite a risk, quite a leap of faith. And so, we need to trust, to look for friends and faith wherever they might be found. Thanks be to God.

Forward notes: The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below” (verse 11b).

“In this portion of Joshua, a woman named Rahab, a Canaanite and a sex worker, helps Israelite spies escape safely from Jericho. According to the Gospel of Matthew, she will eventually become the mother of Boaz, who marries the biblical heroine, Ruth. Thus, she becomes the great-grandmother of King David. She is so significant that she is one of the few female ancestors of Jesus named in his genealogy. And here, she speaks a version of the Shema, the great creedal statement of the Jewish faith: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.’

“In Mark 12, Jesus himself acknowledges this statement of faith as the greatest commandment, that we should love God with all our heart and our neighbours as ourselves. This bedrock statement of faith crosses boundaries of gender, class, culture, and tradition and reminds us that no matter our differences, God is one, and we are God’s people.”

MOVING FORWARD: “What does it mean to you that God is God, one, and all power and authority?”