A Harlot's Protection

God Instructs the People of God

God's People Learn from Prosperity:

God Protects

Joshua 2:10-14

The Message

 ^8-11 Before the spies were down for the night, the woman came up to them on the roof and said, "I know that God has given you the land. We're all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how God dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and God, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below.
 ^12-13 "Now promise me by God. I showed you mercy; now show my family mercy. And give me some tangible proof, a guarantee of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters—everyone connected with my family. Save our souls from death!"
 ¹⁴ "Our lives for yours!" said the men. "But don't tell anyone our business. When God turns this land over to us, we'll do right by you in loyal mercy."

For Reflection
The history of God's people is not for the faint of heart.  After nearly 500 years of captivity, God's people are free.  But to find a place, they have to conduct war.  The land of the Canaanites was a sinful inhumane place.  Not easy to accept in a Christian "make nice" society, God's people displaced the evil that was Canaan.  The protection that God provides came not from a pillar of morality, but from a harlot.  It is not a story of what should be, but rather, what is.

The promise of God fulfilled through a most unexpected person.  A holy covenant was made that day for mutual protection -- living in the hollow of God's hand.  What people seem to be may not match the reality of who they are.

How have you been protected in unexpected ways?

Pray
for God's protection.  Pray that you will accept God's protection from whom ever it is offered.  Pray that you see into a person and find the one that God made.