Joshua 2
Pastor Mark Hudson

When you read a narrative, you should be pursuing what is called “authorial intent.” This simply means to follow the author or discover what the author is saying. To help in this pursuit, look for repetition, look at the context, and sometimes look at the structure of a passage. One literary technique is called a chiastic structure. It looks something like a V with the bottom pointing to the right, like a greater than symbol: . What is in the middle is where the emphasis is or where the author wants you to see.
Dale Ralph Davis in his commentary on Joshua see that structure in this chapter. He is his literary outline:

Commission by Joshua, 1a
Arrival/concern: protection of the spies, 2-7
Confession of faith, 8-14
Escape/concern: protection of Rahab and co., 15-21
Return to Joshua, 22-24.

The heart of the passage is in verses 8-14. Notice the parallels in each section. Commission in v. 1 parallels return in vs. 22-24. Arrival and escape are both parallels. But the confession is the heart of the passage.
Why is following the author so important in a narrative like this? You could try to develop a justification for lying since Rahab lied to her own people. You could wonder why these Jews would stay at the house of a prostitute. You could question why the spies were so bad at keeping undercover. You could pursue all manner of rabbit trails but, they would not be the intent of the author.
For the author what is important is that God is preparing the way for His people. How likely is it that these two spies could end up in the home of someone who was a believer, (v. 9, “I know that the Lord has given you the land” [i.e. the land Rahab is living in] and v. 11, “for the Lord your god, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.”), who was willing to risk her life for her faith, who, like Ruth, joined the people of God, and protected His servants. She also thought of her entire family and pleaded for them. This is no ordinary person they just happened to run into.
In case you missed the conundrum these men are in, consider this: the city gate is shut, the king knows there are spies in Jericho, and they are inside. What will they do in the morning? Before the tension is resolved, we come to what is really important. Rahab has heard of the Lord. She included the city of Jericho in her confession: the fear of you has fallen upon us, for we have heard how the Lord dried up . . . As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man. All the while we don’t know how the men will get out. But for the author, that is not important. Rahab’s confession is.
The tension is resolved by Rahab who is a host, a spiritually alive person, smarter than the king’s messengers, a person who cared deeply for her family members, and protects the servants of Joshua. She is a hero (Matt 1:5) not just some prostitute. In fact, she may be involved in another venture (1:6). She has the ingenuity to let them down outside the city walls by a rope. She even tells them how to get back home to avoid capture. She does it all.
What does this do for Joshua and his people? What a sign that God is going before them. Maybe the spies were not very sneaky but it didn’t seem to matter. God was giving them every possible form of encouragement to go to Jericho. The people of Jericho are afraid of them! I am guessing Joshua’s people were afraid of Jericho. What chance did they have against such a great, ancient, walled city? But now, they realize Jericho was afraid of them (v. 24).
If God wants His church or an individual to do something, this story gives us encouragement to trust in Him. They never had to fight to overcome the city. In fact, they marched, blew horns and shouted “and the wall fell down flat” according to 6:20. They were not mighty warriors. They just yelled and the walls fell down. But in chapter 1 and 2, God’s people were looking at their army and compared to the city of Jericho, the future was bleak for Joshua’s army. But God allowed a few of his people to hear Rahab speak of her fear, her hope, and her allegiance. Can you imagine the encouragement this provided for Joshua’s army?
Sometimes, we get discouraged. We draw conclusions based on what we think will happen. But we don’t know what God knows. He doesn’t often tell us about the future. So we have to trust God. God goes before His people. He does not always tear down obstacles like Jericho. We do not all get out of prison and become second to Pharaoh. But He is always with us. His plans are so much bigger than what we can see or even imagine. Your heartache or loss may not primarily be about you. I may feel acute pain because of a loss or affliction but His reasons are in the millions for why someone died, a job is lost, a home destroyed.
Christ is more precious than a home, a spouse, or a child. That may sound heartless if you lost or are losing someone. But look at Rahab. She is joining an eternal kingdom not because she hates Jericho but she sees something or Someone of greater worth. If you trust in Christ, you have find a treasure that is worth selling all you have to purchase that treasure (Matt. 13:44). O, what eternal joys are ours in Christ. Those sweet pleasures cannot be found in sports, financial security for your children or yourself, in a new car, home, or even a spouse. Only in the One true Treasure: Jesus Christ who lives forever and reigns from all eternity into eternity.
Dear Lord, You have always been good to Your people. You did not have to show Joshua what the people of Jericho were thinking or what easy prey they would be. But You did and You always give more to us than we could ask for. Help us to never count someone out because they are a “prostitute” or some other marginalized person. You save whom You want when You want. May Your Son the Lord Jesus receive all the glory due His glorious name. We pray this in the power of the Spirit for the sake of His soon-coming kingdom. Amen.