The Meaning Of Life

https://biblehub.com/nkjv/joshua/2.htm

No offense intended, but it is hard to know too much about the City of Jericho because science, which often does not match up with theology, has their own facts they purport about Jericho. In fact, when I tried to research the city to find out who the inhabitants were at the time the children of Israel entered the promised land, and I found “World History” stories about cavemen and Neanderthals building the town. If you trace the “history” according to the Bible, using the ages of the patriarchs as described, it dates creation to be between 4000 and 6000 BC, while evolutionists talk about pottery found during archeological excavations of Jericho dating back 11000 years. So, it all depends upon how much weight you give to the theory of evolution vs the history described in the Bible.

I myself, had heard a theory about “micro-evolution” which seems plausible to me, “micro-evolution” being the evolution of cows, oxen, bison, buffalo, etc. from the seven bovine created by God. Looking back at the story of Noah, where he took seven of each clean animal and two of each unclean animal, it doesn’t make sense that they took two poodles, two Dachsuns, two Dalmations, two Husky’s, etc, etc., as it would be impossible for the ark to hold that many animals. However it does make sense that there were two species of canines that micro-evolved into the different breeds of dogs we know to day.

But I’m getting off subject.

What I did find in researching theological view points is that, when the children of Israel crossed over into the promised land, that Jericho was inhabited by the Amorites, a pagan tribe who did not follow God (even though some sources say it was inhabited by Muslims, Christians, and Jews, which does not seem likely as the Jews, who came from the tribe of Judah, had yet to occupy the promised land, and Christianity wasn’t established until the time of Christ.

Anyway, the best I can conclude is that it were the Amorites who were occupying Jericho.

Remember, Joshua and Caleb along with representatives of the other ten tribes had scouted out the promised land during the days of Moses, and ten of the tribes said the people were “too great” to overthrow, whereas Joshua and Caleb had enough faith in God and were confident they could easily overtake the land.

Once again, Joshua sends two spies into Jericho to scout the city and bring back reports on what they were up against.

Many of the cities were fortified against enemies, and this particular story is about how God gave the Israelites the power to break down the “walls of Jericho”. As such, a watchful eye was kept on strangers entering the city, and as soon as the two spies entered, word was delivered to the King of Jericho about the two spies.

The Bible says the spies first stopped at a house occupied by a “harlot” named Rahab. Most think Rahab was a prostitute, which is a possibility. But the word “harlot” in Hebrew, could also mean a female inn-keeper, so depending on your definition of a harlot will determine your view of Rahab. Spoiler alert though, Rahab was an ancestor of Jesus Christ, but I confess I don’t remember if it was through Joseph”s lineage or Mary’s.

The King sent men to get the spies to interrogate them to see what their purpose was in town, but Rahab hid the men. One thing you have to keep in mind, the children of Israel were camped across the Jordan River opposite Jericho. I have no idea what the population of Jericho was in those days, but today it is only a city of about 20,000. The people of Jericho could look across the river, see the Israeli camp, see the number of lights, and knew there were over a million people with the Israelites, and undoubtedly, they were afraid.

Rahab knew it was best to be on the side of Israel, so she aided the spies.

Verse 9 says, “9 (Rahab) 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. 10For 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. 11And 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.”

Isn’t it sad that the occupants of Jericho saw how great God was when the Israelites themselves didn’t recognize it? Here God had worked all of these miracles in Egypt and all throughout the 40 years the children of Israel roamed the wilderness and the battles that they won against Sihon and Og only because God was on their side, and they were still a rebellious and fearful people

So the people of Jericho were scared to death even before the Israelites crossed the river.

And when the King’s men came to get the spies, Rahab covered for them, telling the Kings men that they had already left the city under the cover of darkness, and led them on a wild goose chase. Once the King’s men left to pursue the spies, Rahab let the spies down with a rope from her upper window, her house sitting along the wall, so when the spies set foot back on the ground, they were outside of the camp.

But first Rahab made a deal that she would help the children of Israeli in turn for their protection during the upcoming invasion, and the spies agreed to it.

Another spoiler alert, Rahab ended up marrying a man named Caleb, and while the Bible doesn’t say specifically, it is generally accepted that the “Caleb” she married was the same Caleb that was a friend to Joshua.

And when the men returned to camp, this is the report they gave to Joshua…“Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”

Are you such a good Christian that your enemies are fainthearted, know that God is on your side? Do you live a life so faithful to God that others can see your blessing?

A pastor once pined, and forgive me if I’m repeating myself, that “Satan is not like God, Satan does not know everyone, and when you are tempted, it is probably one of the fallen angels doing Satan’s dirty work. But, referring to Job, wouldn’t it be nice to be such a good Christian that Satan knows you by name? (Refer to Job 1:9 for the context).

Wouldn’t it also be nice that we are such good Christians, that our enemies can see the blessings that God bestows on us and are fainthearted?

God bless you all.

Amen.