I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.
The people of Israel were about to enter the land of Canaan. Joshua sent two of his men, saying, “Go, look over the land . . . especially Jericho.”
The spies found a city of palms, an oasis on a well-traveled road, a gateway into the land of Canaan. The city was on about eight to nine acres of land and had a population of about 1,200 people. The complex of walls around the city reached a height of about 45 feet from the surrounding ground level. Inside the city the people, ruled by a king, were well-armed and fiercely warlike.
The spies met Rahab, a prostitute who had faith in their God, and she hid them in her home. When the king sent some men to seize the spies, Rahab said they had already left. Later she said to them, prophetically, “I know that the Lord has given you this land . . . .”
Physically, Jericho appeared impenetrable. But this city was under the sentence of the judgment of God. Their sin had reached its fullness (see Genesis 15:13-21), and soon the city would lie in a heap of ruins.
God opened Rahab’s heart so that she could see the invisible. Do we have that kind of faith? Are we open to what God says through his Word and his Spirit, so that we can follow his leading?
Father, we pray that the eyes of our hearts may be opened to see you and your plan for our world. We, your servants, ask that your will may be done. In Jesus, Amen.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!