I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
- Joshua 2:9-11

CONNECT DEVOTIONAL: Rahab, why did you do it?

RAHAB: Do what? Hide the Israelite spies?

CD: Without your help, they would have been captured and killed. You hid them and protected them … at great risk to yourself and your family. Weren’t you afraid of the king of Jericho?

R: I had a lot of fear. But it wasn’t fear of the king of Jericho. You can’t run around being afraid of kings.

CD: Was it fear of the Israelites? You mentioned that you heard what the Israelites did to Sihon and Og.

R: That was part of it. The Israelites’ reputation preceded them. We knew they could fight. But we had strong walls in Jericho. A lot of our people trusted in our walls. But I knew they wouldn’t be enough. You just can’t place your hopes on anything you can build yourself.

CD: How did you know that?

R: The Israelites’ God convinced me. I heard the story about how he parted the Red Sea and that he was Lord over heaven and earth. What difference could our walls make in the face of that kind of power? I want to be on his side, whichever side that is.

CD: Your awareness of the Lord motivated you to take this big risk?

R: That’s right. If I had focused on the king of Jericho, I wouldn’t have taken the risk. If I had focused on the Israelites, I probably won’t have taken the risk either (I mean, our walls were pretty fearsome). But the Lord filled my awareness. I couldn’t ignore him. And his presence changed everything.

CD: Rahab, as we close this interview, do you have one last word for our Connect Devotional readers?

R: Do whatever it takes to be aware of the Lord today. If you miss what he’s doing, you’ll miss what’s most important. My awareness of the Lord saved my life and the life of my family. The only reason you know my name is because I paid attention to him.

What do you need to do today to cultivate an awareness of the Lord? What has he done? What is he doing? What do you see and hear?