"By faith Rahab perished not with them that believed not."
How forlorn and hopeless was her condition before the spies had visited her. Death was written on everything. The land—and its inhabitants were given over to utter destruction. She believed all this. All hope as to her then condition was over; nothing but judgment was before her. There was, it is true, a turning of heart to the God of Israel, for whoever bows to God’s judgment (and the woman bowed to it; her people feared but resisted), is drawn irresistibly to the very God whose claim is acknowledged.
But how could she be connected with this God? Where could she find Him? Israel were as yet on the other side Jordan, and, when they should cross, it would be in judgment. Well, God sees this poor woman, and He so orders it, -that, ere a stroke of judgment falls, mercy should reach her, and the assurance of salvation. The spies are guided to her house, and through them she is bound up with Israel’s God and with the fortunes of His people. She transfers all her confidence and all her hopes and expectations to a new scene altogether, which as yet did not exist; for Israel were not yet in the land. But faith calleth the things that be not as though they were, even as God does; and so this woman of precious faith bowed to the judgment and death, her due and portion by nature and by works, and fled for refuge to the. God of Israel, and cast in her lot with His people. Sihon and Og she knew were utterly destroyed. They resisted God’s claims, and opposed Him in the establishment of his kingdom. But she knew that it was a vain opposition: for He was God in heaven above, and God in earth beneath. The idols were no gods. So she gives her whole place, and possession, and inheritance of the land under the god of this world, and looks for a name and inheritance under the God of Israel. For if Jericho is to be destroyed, it is to make way for the God and people of Israel, and, in faith, she transfers herself to a city that hath foundations, to an inheritance that fadeth not away. Moreover, her life she begs from God: from "Deliver our lives from death." And in the name of their God does she ask it: "Swear unto me by the Lord."
What a change to Rahab in a few hours! The shadow of death is turned into the morning. The coming of Joshua, instead of being black with judgment is bright with hope; for she has the token of the God of Israel that his coming will be salvation to her.
How this not only changes her prospects, but her life and business! All her plans and pursuits in Jericho are uprooted, and now they all have reference to the coming day. Her one object would be, to get beneath the scarlet line all dear to her. And of what a secret between Rahab and God, and the people of God, was this: scarlet line the sign and symbol! Who in Jericho knew its import but herself? So is it with us in all these particulars. The world knoweth us not. It is as really under judgment now as was Jericho then, though heedless of it as they were. But we look for the coming of Jesus, to take us to Himself on that day.
Note also that Rahab risks her life for this people, even before she has any assurance that they will have mercy on her.
The two chief points in this precious narrative, are-first, the tender grace and compassion of God towards this one solitary woman, under judgment, and a harlot, but a vessel of mercy and bright specimen of the sovereignty of His Grace. The spies must find her out; Israel’s march must tarry until the scarlet line has sheltered this woman of Canaan. And, second, she perished not with them that believed not. All would have been saved by faith as well as Rahab. God will be justified in His sayings, and clear when He judges.