The article by Alexander Carson examines the providential role of Rahab in the Israelite spies' story, highlighting the theological concept of divine sovereignty intertwined with human action. Carson argues that Rahab's faith as a Gentile becomes a conduit for God's purposes, emphasizing that her actions were not a coincidence but orchestrated by God for His glory and the fulfillment of His plan. The author references Joshua 2:1-7 to illustrate how Rahab, despite her sinful actions and ignorance of God's complete will, was used by God—demonstrating that faith can coexist with human weakness. This discussion serves to affirm the Reformed belief in God's sovereign choice and His use of unlikely means to carry out His redemptive work, emphasizing that believers are often called to obedience despite imperfections.
Key Quotes
“Rahab was the only believer in Jericho... The Lord in his Providence had need of Rahab's services.”
“God's people often glorify him by their obedience while in that very obedience there is sinful weakness.”
“Who can hide when God would make manifest? Who can discover what God would conceal?”
“Every Christian needs a similar defence in many instances.”
What a lucky chance! What an instance of providential direction! What brought the spies to the house of Rahab? They came not by invitation. They came not by previous acquaintance, or information with respect to her faith and friendship towards Israel. Among all the houses of Jericho, why did they happen to lodge with Rahab? It has been uselessly, as well as foolishly, attempted to be proved that she had not been an harlot, but the keeper of a house of entertainment. There is no evidence that she kept a house of general entertainment at all. But were this even in evidence, why did the spies happen to lodge in this house, rather than in any other of the same kind? Rahab was the only believer in Jericho. Why was there one believer found in Jericho? The Lord in his Providence had need of Rahab's services. He took out of Jericho just what served his purpose. But could not Jehovah have performed his will without Rahab? Doubtless he could; but he chose to act by means, and by the means of his people, and in this case by a Gentile believer, as a figure of the calling of the Gentiles to the blessings of God's true Israel.
The king of Jericho is informed that Israelitish spies were in the country—in the city—in the very house of Rahab. Could not the watchful Providence of God have prevented this? Could not the overruling power of Jehovah have kept it secret from the king of Jericho that spies were in the country—in the city—in the house of Rahab? Did Providence in this instance fight against itself? If we see the hand of Providence for Israel in the faith of Rahab, may not our enemies claim a similar Providence in manifesting the fact to the king of Jericho? Such manifestation was God's purpose, and for God's glory, as well as the eventual success of the spies. It tried the faith of Rahab. It proved her faith and her ignorance of duty. It showed an important truth, that God's people often glorify him by their obedience, while in that very obedience there is sinful weakness. Rahab's faith and hiding of the spies are approved by God; her lying was the result of ignorance of duty or weakness of faith. There need not any singular defence be set up for Rahab. Every Christian needs a similar defence in many instances. Who is it who is perfect in the knowledge of the revealed will of God? Who is it, then, who commits not sins from ignorance of duty?
Rahab hides the spies, and denies that they are in the house. But the danger is not over. Why does this lie succeed? Why did the king's messengers take her word? They should have died for their negligence. They should have searched every corner of the house. Would the police of any city, on such information, take the word of the most respectable householder? The thing was of God, and the cautious are negligent, or forgetful, when it is God's purpose to keep them from succeeding. The messengers are deceived by Rahab, and go in pursuit where the prey is not to be found. The stalks of flax would have been no cover, had it been God's purpose to reveal. Who can hide when God would make manifest? Who can discover what God would conceal? Who is it that may not see the work of the Providence of the Lord in the history of this matter?" And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate."—Joshua ii. 1-7.
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