and to the plagues sent so that Egypt and its king would “know” that Yahweh is the one
true God. Rahab, a Canaanite harlot, confesses to both
know and
believe the lesson of the
Exodus that Yahweh is “God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” Not only will her
confession of faith save
her life, but as we shall see later, it will graft her into the very
bloodline of Abrahamic blessing that brings salvation for the world. Rahab demands that
the spies swear to spare
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her and her father’s house. They agree, and the
sign of this
oath is a scarlet cord marking and preserving her and her family from death.
Rahab’s report illustrates an important piece of intelligence that Moses’ twelve spies
had missed. The people of the land, however strong they were in numbers, arms, and
fortifications, had lost all courage because they had heard what God had done for Israel.
The people whom Israel feared to fight were themselves trembling in terror and ready to
“melt away” if only Israel had crossed into the land (see Ex 15:14–16). The failure of
Israel and the ten spies is only now fully realized. God’s miraculous deeds had set Israel
up for taking the land without much of a fight. But now a generation has passed, and the
golden opportunity is gone. What Israel could have won with simple obedience will now
have to be taken by force.
Joshua leads the
people across the Jordan, hoping that upon seeing the turning back
of the waters Israel will “know” that the living God is among them (Jos 3:10). Joshua then
commands all the males to be circumcised, indicating that the generation in the
wilderness failed to practice circumcision. After this, Israel celebrates the Passover. The
original Passover celebrated God’s saving of Israel from Egypt. Here, at the Passover’s first
commemoration inside
the Promised Land, Israel additionally gives thanks for
deliverance from the hostile wilderness. Circumcision marks Israel out from the
uncircumcised Canaanite tribes; the worship of the Passover marks out their faith in the
one God from the false worship of idols that permeates pagan worship. With ethnic and
religious identity secured, Israel is ready to secure the land.
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