In the two Israelite spies’ “chance” meeting with Rahab, they discover she knows much about Israel. She is, in a way, counting the cost of leaving her polytheistic background. Could God have led the spies directly to her, as He did Peter to the gentile centurion Cornelius? Did God intend to call her to the faith? We can't say for sure from the account but we can read how her faith is commended twice, once in Hebrews 11:31 and once in James 2:25.

Rahab, in her fledgling faith, is more concerned over saving the spies than about telling a misleading story to the king. By her subterfuge, the king’s troops are misdirected to the fords of Jordan while the spies hide under drying bundles of flax on Rahab’s roof. After the troops are gone she goes to the spies with a remarkable confession—she recounts her newfound faith:

“I know that the LORD has given this land to you” (Joshua 2:9). This shows Rahab’s belief in the power of the true God. She continues, “terror of you has fallen on us, and all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you” (verse 9). This offered the military intelligence the spies are to report back to Joshua. It shows God’s hand already at work to bring the overthrow of Jericho.

“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…whom you utterly destroyed” (verse 10). This was a remarkable statement. Although the two kings were fairly recent news from across the other side of Jordan, the Red Sea event occurred some 40 years prior. How old was Rahab? When did she learn this? Did it come from her parents when she was a child? It shows significant awe of biblical events had spread during the wanderings—neighbouring nations were familiar with Israelite history. The defeat of the two kings suddenly brought the “end time” into sharp focus for a city next on the list. Rahab believes the reports and is now converting to Israel’s God. It seems too that her parents, brothers, and sisters are all equally believing. We know this because the spies tell her all must remain in the house and not leave. It appears they obeyed (see Joshua 6:25)—and were saved through the grace offered Rahab.

She acknowledges, “for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven and on earth” (Joshua 2:11). The spies trust her to not tell the king of their escape until they are safely across the Jordan. In return for their safety they vow to protect her when the Israelite assault begins, provided she abides by two conditions. One: she and all her family must stay inside her house during the attack. Two: she must tie a piece of red cord to her window on the wall to identify the location to attacking troops. This way her house would be unobtrusively identified to an Israelite search party. The red cord tied to the window was to be the proof of grace given her from God. The two spies no doubt excitedly explained all these events to Joshua who in response accepted the vow to protect Rahab and her family.

As the Israelites approached Jericho, God explained He would collapse the walls (Joshua 6:5). Joshua must have wondered how the vow would be honoured when the walls were to fall. Did it mean ALL the walls, or enough of the wall structure to enable the troops to rush in and take the city? It must have been astonishing when the dust settled to see that the section of wall with a red cord was tied to a window still stood upright. What amazing deliverance. What a lesson of trust and grace for not just Rahab and her family, but also Joshua and the Israelites. (Yet how short-lived was the awe from this miracle when it came to the next conquest of Ai!)

Joshua immediately told the spies to take Rahab and her family outside the Israelite camp. Then they burned the city.

What the blood on the doorposts on the first Passover night in Egypt was to Israel, the scarlet cord in the window to the house of Rahab. It became Rahab’s identification as one to receive grace in a day of calamity. Her sinful years overlooked (Acts 17:30), she became the ancestress, as did Ruth, of David and of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1,5-6).

On Passover, Christians celebrate deliverance from the bondage of sin. With confidence in God’s grace, we march on towards our Promised Land—just as the Israelites and Rahab did many years ago.

Further reading

For more on Rahab, see her entry in our Profiles of Faith series. For more about Passover, read about it in our Frequently Asked Bible Questions.