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The DEEP

Personal Faith

Mission accomplished

Joshua 2:8–14

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

This isn’t about Israel; it’s about the LORD. Rahab knows that the LORD has given you the land. Rahab even says, “the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

But it’s even stronger than that; Rahab’s statement loses something in the translation. She doesn’t say, “the LORD,” she says God’s name—Yahweh (יהוה)1. That’s much more personal than it looks in English.

Rahab’s faith isn’t some distant, abstract thing. She talks like she knows Him.


And on top of all that, it’s a perfect “mission accomplished” for the spies. It’s funny that even though the only place they went in Jericho was a brothel, they still came away with a treasure trove of information about their prospects for conquering the land. Imagine their conversation with Joshua when they returned.

Joshua: “Welcome back. What did you learn?”

Spies: “We’re golden. They told us that they have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for Israel when we came out of Egypt, and what we did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan. They also told us that as soon as they heard these things, their hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone. One woman even professed faith in the LORD as God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

Joshua: “Wow, you gathered an amazing amount of intel. Where’d you go?”

Spies: “Uh …”


1Out of respect for His name, and for the third commandment, translators print God’s holy name as “the LORD.” That’s the right thing to do, but always be mindful that when you see “the LORD” in all caps (or small caps) the Hebrew is actually His name. This is most significant when it’s spoken in a conversation.


These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Weekend DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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