You Go First

How often in life do you find yourself in a situation like this: you want something someone else has, and they want something you have, but neither one of you trusts the other to uphold their end of the deal once they get what they want? So, there’s a stand-off. Who will go first?

Let me give you some examples. Kids on a playground. At the risk of being sexist (and in my defense, I’m merely recounting what I observed when I was a kid), for little boys it usually goes something like this. “I dare you to climb to the top of that swing set, and then jump off.” “Oh yeah, well I’ll do it if you do it.” “I’ll do it if you do it.” “Fine, then you go first.” “No, YOU go first!”

Whereas, for little girls, it might look more like this. “Tell me a secret you’ve never told anyone before, and that would be really embarrassing if anyone found out.” “OK, I’ll do it, but only if you tell me one of your secrets.” “I’ll tell you, but you go first.” “No, YOU go first!”

You see the dilemma, right? Whoever goes first runs the risk that the other one backs out of their end of the deal, leaving the first person to get burned. It’s a matter of trust.

How about the classic hostage negotiation stand-off we’ve all seen on police shows? “Give me the money and I’ll release the hostage.” “Oh no, how do we know you won’t kill them anyway. First you release the hostage, then we’ll give you the money.” “Then what’s to stop you from shooting me!? You go first.” “No, YOU go first!”

Those of you in business run into this type of situation all the time. “You go first.” “No, YOU go first!”

How about your relationship with God? Do you trust Him enough that you’re willing to make the first move, to go first? Or, are you all-too-often waiting for Him to first prove Himself trustworthy to you, regardless of His track record? Think about that.

We’re looking at the book of Joshua in a series titled, “Encouraged by What’s Ahead.” In Chapter 1 we saw the moment unfold where Israel stood at the edge of the Jordan River, staring across at the promised land. And we watched the new leader, Joshua, receive the charge of courage from God, as he began to lead with trust, obedience, and action.

I hope you will be as encouraged as I am by the amazing story of a woman named Rahab, who had the courage to “go first.” Her courage helped the Israelites find their courage to start the process of possessing the land God promised them.

While Rahab’s story is an integral part of the plot in Israel’s story, it’s so much more than that. Rahab herself is one of the most renowned and inspirational women in the Bible. She proves to be a lasting demonstration of what true faith looks like, as documented in several accounts in the New Testament.

But perhaps the most powerful lesson we can take away from Rahab’s story is a prophetic one that points directly to Jesus. Her story demonstrates God’s incredible, reckless love for, and desire to save, ALL those who choose to follow Him. And as we’ll see, it symbolizes God’s ultimate plan for achieving this salvation through Jesus.

With that build-up, we’ll jump right into the story.

We’re going to read the entire story found in Chapter 2, though to see how things finally play out for Rahab and her family, we’ll have to wait until Chapter 6.

Joshua 2:1-24 (NLT)

1 Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.

2 But someone told the king of Jericho, “Some Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab: “Bring out the men who have come into your house, for they have come here to spy out the whole land.”

4 Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don’t know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them.” 6 (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) 7 So the king’s men went looking for the spies along the road leading to the shallow crossings of the Jordan River. And as soon as the king’s men had left, the gate of Jericho was shut.

8 Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. 9 “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13 when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

14 “We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.”

15 Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. 16 “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.”

17 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members, your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives, must be here inside the house. 19 If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. 20 If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.”

21 “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.

22 The spies went up into the hill country and stayed there three days. The men who were chasing them searched everywhere along the road, but they finally returned without success.

23 Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. 24 “The Lord has given us the whole land,” they said, “for all the people in the land are terrified of us.”

1. Who does God save?

Do you think the Israelites were surprised that of all the people in Jericho bound for destruction, Rahab is the one who is saved? What was it about Rahab that might have surprised them?

Rahab was a woman (women were second-class citizens in those days), she was poor, she was dishonest (she lied to the King! More on that later), she was a prostitute, and she was a non-Jew! From an upstanding, God-fearing, Jewish man’s perspective, she had absolutely everything going against her. She would have been the last person in the world God would want to save. And yet, God chose her.

The first big takeaway from this story has to do with who God saves. The answer is of course anyone! God wants to save everyone. God is able to save anyone. God does save anyone who chooses the free gift of salvation He offers. You can’t read this story and miss this point. It is an incredibly powerful, prophetic message, just as meaningful for people today as it was to the Jews back then.

Discussion

1. Rahab had five things going against her in the eyes of Jericho and of Israel. Which of the five would still count against someone in a church today?
2. “She would have been the last person in the world God would want to save.” Who is that person in your mind, and what does this chapter do to that idea?

2. How does God save?

What traits do you see in Rahab, and what did she do that enabled her to be saved?

She had gathered knowledge about God and what He had done. She believed God is who He said He is. She trusted God and the Jewish spies. She showed courage. She acted boldly, taking matters into her own hands.

And above all, she exhibited a tremendous faith. Hebrews 11:31 says, “It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”

And James 2:24-25 say, “So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.” In other words, not only was Rahab a tremendous picture of faith, but her faith combined with the bold, courageous action she took because of her faith is what really stands out.

How do we know it was Rahab’s faith that led her to do all those things, and not simply fear? After all, several times she mentions that she and all the people in her land are terrified of the Jews. She uses the image of “melting with fear.” Maybe everything she did was merely out of fear and desperation, resulting in mighty acts of self-preservation.

Well, aside from the fact that the verses we just read in Hebrews and James declare it was her faith, I believe her words clearly indicate that faith is the origin of her courage and actions. Notice the very first thing she declares to the spies, before she points out how afraid people are: “I know the Lord has given you this land.” She has no doubts. It’s a done deal. Game already over. God has won. Jericho has lost. And she has chosen her side.

Next, when she recounts what she has heard about God and the Israelites, notice again the first thing she points out. It’s not their military strength and victories. It’s not that they completely destroyed several kingdoms to the east of the Jordan River. The very first thing she points out is the miracle of the Red Sea, when God parted the waters to enable the Jews to safely escape from the pursuing Egyptians. What impresses her most about God is not His ability to destroy, but His ability to save. That He loves and cares so much about the Jews, that He miraculously controlled nature to protect them. What impresses her impresses me that her motivation is faith in God’s power to save, not fear of God’s destruction.

By the way, she blatantly lied to the King, telling his men that the spies had left, when in fact she had hidden them on her roof. This point has caused controversy for many. Is this proof that lying is not necessarily wrong, or a sin, that the ends justify the means? After all, she is revered as a great woman of faith, and yet she demonstrated her faith and courage with a lie.

We could spend a lot of time on this question, but we’re not going to. Instead, let’s just accept that all people are sinners, including those most honored by God throughout history. King David did more to honor God than perhaps any other person recounted in the Old Testament, and yet he also was a terrible sinner. Rather than try to twist this story into proof that lying is justified, let’s just recognize what an amazing God we have who is able to see beyond our sin and still love us.

Discussion

1. The first thing Rahab names about God is the Red Sea, not the conquests. What does someone notice first about God when they are drawn rather than frightened?
2. “What impresses her most about God is not His ability to destroy, but His ability to save.” Which of the two impresses you first?
3. James says she was shown right with God by her actions. How do you hold that next to salvation by faith?

3. What is the prophecy of Rahab’s story?

Do you see any ties to the New Testament in this story?

This story points to God’s ultimate plan to save people through Jesus in so many ways. We could spend hours discussing this topic alone. We don’t have hours. So let me just touch on a few highlights.

For starters, Yeshua, or Joshua, means “YHWH is salvation” or “The Lord saves,” and it is the Hebrew name for the Greek transliteration, “Jesus.” So we recognize that Joshua is a figure of Jesus in this story. He is the judge of Jericho, just as God has given Jesus the role to judge the world.

The people of Israel, like the spies, are an extension of Joshua in his role as Jesus. Recall in verse 14 they said, “We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety.” They put their own lives on the line to save. And who do they save? Those who choose God by faith. That is, Rahab. And by what means is she saved? Blood must be shed to cover sin. And the scarlet rope Rahab hangs from her window is the symbol of that blood.

Now, once Rahab professes her faith in God her commitment to Him (via His people), is she all done? Can she now do whatever she wants, going back to living exactly as she had before? Notice in verse 17 the spies explain to Rahab that, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions.” What is the significance of this part of the deal?

You see, God expects a change of heart, and He expects our obedience. This is necessary for the process of “sanctification,” which only just begins at the point of salvation. We will see Rahab’s full obedience in Chapter 6, which not only results in her being saved, but also in her playing a key role in the lineage of Jesus! Rahab later marries a Jewish husband, and her son Boaz and daughter-in-law Ruth become the great grandparents of King David, who is the direct ancestor of Jesus.

Discussion

1. The scarlet rope had to stay in the window, and the family had to stay inside the house. Why does a sign of salvation come with instructions?
2. “God expects a change of heart, and He expects our obedience.” Where does obedience become earning, and where does it stay evidence?
3. A Canaanite prostitute ends up in the line of the Messiah. What does that do to how you read the rest of the genealogy?

4. When does God save?

Finally let’s return to the dilemma we talked about at the beginning. We see it play out here between Rahab and the spies. They each want something from the other: the spies want Rahab’s protection from the King, who discovered they were at her house, and she wants protection from the certain destruction that will come upon Jericho. Neither one has a good reason to trust the other. This has the makings of a stand-off. Who will go first?

Who went first?

That’s right, Rahab did! Before she ever even brought up any request for protection of her and her family, as soon as she learned the King was onto the spies, she hid them on her roof, and then boldly risked outright lying to the King’s men about the whereabouts of the spies. Only after she had already done all these things did she ask the spies for what she wanted.

Do you see the significance of Rahab going first? She could easily have been burned. The spies could have said, “Sorry, God made it clear that we are to destroy all the people in the land, and we just can’t make any exceptions, much less promises.” But instead God honored her bold faith. He led the spies to make an exception. To even make an oath with her. Rahab went first, and she was saved.

So, does that mean that whenever you find yourself in a stand-off in life, you should just blindly trust the other person and always go first, come what may? Of course it’s not that simple. But, in the case of a stand-off with God, it IS that simple. With God, it’s different. Why?

Well, for one thing, as we’ve recognized, it’s a matter of trust. And God most certainly can be trusted, completely! He will never let you down. He always has your best interests in mind. He loves you.

But that’s not the only reason. More importantly, even though it might seem like God is waiting for you to make your move, to “go first,” the fact is that God already went first. He went first when he created the universe. He went first when He created you. He went first when sent his one and only son, Jesus Christ, to the world to experience temptation, to be beaten and rejected, and to die a death deserved by all sinful people.

God already took the first step by making Himself vulnerable, and feeling the pain of being burned. So, in truth, He’s not asking us to take the first step, to “go first.” He’s only asking us to see and trust the love and commitment He has already demonstrated, and then to respond to it with our own love and commitment, to Him.

Discussion

1. Rahab acted before she asked for anything. What would going first look like in a stand-off you are in right now?
2. “God already went first.” Where in your life are you still waiting on God to prove Himself before you move?
3. What has God already demonstrated to you that you have not yet responded to?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the story of Rahab in Joshua 2?

Rahab was a prostitute living in Jericho when Joshua sent two Israelite spies to scout the land. She hid the spies from the king of Jericho, confessed her faith in the God of Israel, and asked for protection for herself and her family. The spies agreed, telling her to hang a scarlet rope from her window as a sign. When Jericho fell in Joshua 6, Rahab and her family were spared.

Why is Rahab important in the Bible?

Rahab is celebrated as a hero of faith in both the Old and New Testaments. Hebrews 11:31 honors her faith, and James 2:25 holds her up as an example of faith demonstrated through action. She married into Israel and became an ancestor of King David and ultimately of Jesus Christ, as recorded in Matthew 1:5.

What does the scarlet rope in Joshua 2 symbolize?

The scarlet rope Rahab hung from her window served as the sign that would mark her household for salvation when Jericho was destroyed. Many readers see it as a foreshadowing of the blood of Christ, the ultimate means by which God saves those who place their faith in Him. It echoes the Passover lamb’s blood on the doorposts in Exodus 12.

What does Joshua 2 teach about faith?

Joshua 2 teaches that faith is not passive. Rahab gathered knowledge about God, believed He was who He said He was, and then acted on that belief at great personal risk. Her story shows that genuine faith combines conviction with courage, and that God honors those who step forward in trust even when the outcome is uncertain.

How does Rahab connect to Jesus?

Rahab married Salmon, an Israelite, and became the mother of Boaz. Boaz married Ruth, and their line led to King David, the direct ancestor of Jesus. Matthew 1:5 includes Rahab in the genealogy of Christ. A Canaanite outsider and former prostitute became part of the bloodline of the Messiah, demonstrating that God’s plan of salvation has always included people from every nation and background.

Was Rahab justified in lying to protect the spies?

This question has been debated for centuries. Scripture does not explicitly approve or condemn her lie. What is clear is that God honored her faith, not her deception.

Hebrews and James both commend her for her faith and actions in protecting the spies. Most commentators agree that the story highlights God’s ability to work through imperfect people rather than endorsing dishonesty as a moral principle.

This lesson is part of the Encouraged by What’s Ahead series.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.