Today's Scripture Reading (March 24, 2025): Joshua 2
The story of the Exodus sometimes leads us to believe that Israel’s escape from Egypt was a singular event. But I am convinced that this is not true. The Exodus tells the story of the core segment of the Hebrew population being moved from Egypt to Canaan. But I believe there had always been a trickle of people out of Egypt: a family here, a single person there, who disappeared from Egypt and made their way to Canaan. They probably weren’t noticed immediately, and by the time they were missed, it wasn’t worth the effort for Egypt to chase after them. The unlucky ones were likely caught and killed, a fate shared by many escaping slaves in history. But those who succeeded in escaping Egypt found themselves looking for new places to live in cities like Jericho, building new homes among people they did not know. These people became the source for the stories that Rahab had heard, that the King of Jericho had heard, and the people had heard. The exploits of the God of Israel were told around fires late at night and around mealtimes between friends.
As a result of these stories, an interest was built up around these obscure people. Travelers would stop by with new stories of this people of God. The people of Jericho probably knew that Israel was approaching. Armchair experts strategized where Israel might cross the Jordan and what cities might be in the way of this approaching nation. They knew that Israel was on their way to Canaan, and they had heard the rumor that God had given this group of formerly enslaved people the land on which they lived. And the closer they got, the more fearful they became. Their hearts melted, and they were paralyzed by fear, and their courage melted away.
Bad fear always has this tendency to paralyze. We stop doing the things we know we should do. We put off that visit to the doctor or refuse to share our resume with potential employers because it is not quite ready. We delay applying to the college we want to attend. Bad fear tends to paralyze us until it is too late. Fear of failure often results in a lack of action. It is something Rahab knew that she had to avoid.
One of my favorite historical people is Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, better known to most of us as the Queen Mother because two Queen Elizabeths alive at once would be confusing. From the day of her coronation alongside her husband, she was known as Queen Elizabeth. After King George VI died in 1952 and Queen Elizabeth II took the throne, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon became known as simply the Queen Mother.
But George and Elizabeth shared the throne during the entire Second World War. At the beginning of the war, Elizabeth was misunderstood. She would often be criticized for showing up at bomb sites dressed in her best finery. But she argued that the people who came to see her always wore their best clothes, even if their best was not very good. And she refused not to pay them the same compliment.
At the beginning of the war, the East end of London took the brunt of the German bombings, And Elizabeth was there to help out. It wasn’t long before Buckingham Palace became a target. Buckingham Palace was bombed by the Germans several times at the height of the Battle of Britain, and it was bombed while the Royal Family was in residence. Elizabeth’s famous quote after the first bombing of the Palace was, "I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." There was pressure on Elizabeth to move temporarily to Canada with her two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, but Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon refused. She finally conceded to move her family away from Buckingham Palace. The Palace had several unusable rooms and windows that had to be boarded up, so the family took up residence in Windsor Castle, about 30 km away. During the day, George and Elizabeth continued to work at Buckingham Palace, but at night, they would go and stay with their children at Windsor Castle. Dignitaries are said to have complained because George and Elizabeth lived, by choice, under the same rations as the people.
I think too often we hear the words of Jesus as he says fear not, and somehow believe that he is saying that there is nothing to fear. But I am not sure that that is it. As the waves crashed around the boat on the Sea of Galilee, there was lots to fear. Denying fear exists is never wise. But knowing that bad fear is the enemy of courage, we can stand amid that melting fear when our courage has failed and declare that we serve a God who is more significant than even that fear. Rahab seemed to understand that principle and trusted in the God of these escaping slaves.
It is interesting to me that Rahab, this Gentile prostitute, actually quotes Deuteronomy in vs. 11. Rahab’s words are, “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 2:11). Compare Rahab’s words of with those of Moses in Deuteronomy 4.
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time (Deuteronomy 4:39-40).
Rahab had decided to do precisely that. To “acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” Even though she probably was facing the most significant fear she had ever known in her life, Rahab trusted in this God, who, until now, she had known only in the stories of escaped enslaved people coming out of Egypt.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 3
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