Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
The Place Of Safety
T
by Brent Goodge
here was a knock at the door of the “lady of the
all who were inside the house marked with the scarlet cord
evening.” Two men desired and received entrance.
would be saved. Anyone outside the house, regardless if
These men were foreigners, strangers in a strange
they were related to the woman, would be killed. The entire
city. They weren’t just strangers—they were also spies. Their presence had been discovered and reported to the authorities. They came seeking a place to hide. The “business” of the hostess had given her familiarity
story is recorded in Joshua chapter 2 and Joshua 6:22-25. While waiting for Israel to return and attack the city, Rahab told her family that her house would be a place of safety from the coming invasion. The Bible records that
with very powerful city leaders. She knew the town was
both her parents, her brothers, and all that they had were
terribly fearful of an attack. Treason is a crime punishable by
saved in what was otherwise a complete annihilation of the
death. No doubt, the powerful leaders she knew would have
city. While the rest of the wall around Jericho fell down, her
no problem using her crime of harboring spies as an excuse
house on the wall remained standing. God had warned Noah that he would sit in the ark for a week before the rain began. God had warned Lot that the fire would fall the very next day. Rahab and her family had no such knowledge of when the invasion would come. It would have been so easy for her family to have gotten tired of waiting as Israel marched around day after day. They could have just stepped outside for some fresh air. But they didn’t. They waited on the promise of God for their deliverance. The Bible records that Rahab’s family became part of the people of God, and Rahab was herself an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Joshua 6:25; Matthew 1:5).
to forever silence the dark secrets she had drawn from them
Rahab was also listed by name in the biblical “Hall of Faith”
through the years.
(Hebrews 11:31).
But in spite of her situation and the risk to her life, she
A storm is coming (Daniel 12:1). Sometimes it feels like
protected the spies from those coming to search. She knew
the storm has already begun. We do not know when the full
something about the God these spies worshiped. She knew
ferocity will strike. But we know where the only Place of
that her gods had no power like their God. If life itself
safety is (Psalm 91:1; John 14:6). May we never get tired of
depended on obeying one God or the other, she would risk
waiting and take a step outside!
In exchange for saving the spies, she requested the preservation of life for her and her family. They agreed that
6 // August 2020
About The Author
everything to be counted as a believer in the God of Heaven. Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County. He prays and trusts that as our cities appear to crumble around us, God will sustain His people.
