This summer I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to have a bible study with 3 friends of mine in which we go through stories of the bible, identify the characters, talk about what the characters were probably thinking and feeling, then see how this would speak into our lives. Its flippen amazing.
Tonight a certain Ms. Anderson lead the discussion on Rehab the prostitute in Joshua 2. What we found has convicted me.
When the spies were with Rehab, she explained to them that she (as well as the whole region of Jericho) had heard of the fame of the God of Israel. They knew about the red sea and about the two kings that were destroyed on the other side of the Jordan. She states this strange thing: she knew that the God of Israel had given Israel the land of Jericho and her only request was that when they come to conquer the city that they spare her and her family. Compare this to the King of Jericho who immediately sent a few people to Rehab’s house to capture the two Hebrew spies. We know Rehab lied and sent the two off in a different direction (this is why the writer of Hebrews noted her faith in Hebrews 11). These two reactions brought a lot of conversation.
Please note that everyone, including Rehab, had fear concerning the God of Israel. Rehab knew He was the most powerful god. However, the King’s fear caused him to go into self-preservation. Rehab’s fear caused her to run to God. Where the King was afraid of God, Rehab had the fear of the Lord. Rehab knew she couldn’t beat the Lord, so instead of bucking against Him she asked for mercy. The King tried to see if he could win. Consequently, he was deceived and it ultimately cost him his life.
In short: The difference between being afraid of God and having the fear of the Lord is the fear of the Lord causes you to run TO God where being afraid causes you to run from Him.
