Why did Joshua send two spies to Jericho? At first glance, the answer seems obvious—they were gathering military intelligence before Israel attacked the city. But a closer look at Joshua 2 suggests God had a much greater purpose in mind.

Israel was camped on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, preparing to enter the Promised Land. Moses was dead. Joshua was the officially designated, spirit-filled leader of the nation now. The census had been completed proving that prophecy had been fulfilled. No one remained of the generation that had been 20 years old or older when Israel refused to enter Canaan forty years prior. 

The new generation were more prepared, physically, mentally and, most importantly, spiritually, to cross the Jordon and conquer Canaan.

Joshua, the God-ordained military and spiritual leader, knew Jericho, a heavily fortified city whose massive walls, would be their first and most formidable city to conquer once they crossed the Jordon River. After all, he was one of the twelve who spied out the land at Moses’ command, forty years before.

Their report changed the course of Israel’s history.

All twelve spies agreed the land was everything God had promised. But ten of them focused on the obstacles rather than God’s power. They convinced the nation that conquering Canaan was impossible.

Only Joshua and Caleb trusted the Lord.

Israel listened to the negative reports instead of focusing on the positive and believing God’s promise. As a result, they refused to enter the land, and because of their unbelief, God declared that everyone twenty years old and older—except Joshua and Caleb—would die in the wilderness before Israel entered Canaan (Numbers 13–14).

Now, four decades later, Joshua stands by the Jordan again. He’s no longer a spy—he’s the leader of Israel preparing to take the Israelite nation into the promised land to begin the arduous task of conquering it. And he decides to send two spies to investigate Jericho.

After witnessing firsthand the disaster that followed the report from the first spying mission, why would Joshua repeat it?

God’s promises hadn’t changed. What was Joshua’s purpose? Was it purely to develop a military strategy?

Perhaps.

But what if there was a deeper purpose, even he wasn’t aware of?

Was Joshua Looking for Military Intelligence?

Joshua 2 simply tells us: “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. ‘Go, look over the land,’ he said, ‘especially Jericho.'” (Joshua 2:1)

From that brief introduction we know that Joshua certainly was seeking information about the city and the surrounding countryside. He was also wise enough to send the spies secretly so that only he—not the entire nation—would evaluate their report. And while they did return with valuable information, it wasn’t the kind of military intelligence we might expect.

When the spies returned, their report was remarkably brief. They did not describe how big the city was, how thick the walls were, how may soldiers there were, or the best point of attack. Instead, they reported: “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” (Joshua 2:24)

That report would have greatly strengthened Israel’s confidence. God had already gone before them, and fear had gripped the hearts of their enemies.

Yet, beyond that psychological and spiritual encouragement, Joshua 2 contains remarkably little military intelligence. Instead, the entire chapter revolves around a woman. A woman who lived within the walls of that great city. A woman by the name of Rahab.

A Woman God Refused to Leave Behind

Rahab lived in the very city that God would soon condemn to complete destruction and its inhabitants to annihilation. Just as God had once judged Sodom and Gomorrah, Jericho’s cup of iniquity had become full. Israel was commanded to destroy the city completely. No one was ever to live there again. It was cursed. (Joshua 6:26)

Neither were the Israelites to be enriched by conquering Jericho. “Everything made of silver, gold, bronze, or iron is set apart for the LORD. It is to be put in the LORD’s treasury.” (Joshua 6:19).

By human standards, Rahab should have perished with the rest of the city. She had nothing to recommend her to be saved. She was a Canaanite, from a pagan culture. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she was a prostitute.

But in spite of all that, God saw something no one else could see. He saw faith.

When Rahab spoke to the spies, she revealed that she had already come to believe in the God of Israel.

“I know that the LORD has given you this land… We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea… When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear… for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:9–11)

Notice that Rahab’s faith did not begin when the spies arrived. She had already heard about God’s mighty acts. She had already concluded that Israel’s God was the true God. The spies didn’t create her faith. They gave her an opportunity to exercise it.

Was This the Real Purpose of the Mission?

Joshua probably believed he was gathering intelligence for an upcoming battle. But God had another mission in mind. A rescue mission for one of His beloved daughters.

Before judgment fell on Jericho, God made sure that everyone who truly believed Him had an opportunity to be saved.

Rahab wasn’t spared because she had a stellar reputation and great spiritual insight. She wasn’t rescued because she was a descendant of Israel.

She was saved because of her faith.

The scarlet cord hanging from her window became a visible sign that she trusted the God of Israel and His promise to save.

What an incredible revelation of God’s extravagant love. What undeniable evidence that God is no respecter of persons. He longs to save men and women from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. He is not concerned with whether they are rich or poor, respected or despised, outwardly moral or openly sinful. And He will do whatever it takes to provide a way of escape for any who seek Him.

An Interesting Parallel with Sodom

While studying Joshua 2, I was reminded of two other cities that had resided in the fertile valley of the Jordon River some 500 to 600 years earlier—Sodom and Gomorrah. As I reread the story of the twin city’s destruction, I discovered some astonishing similarities that made Rahab’s story even more impactful.

In both accounts:

• God had determined that the wickedness of the city had reached its limit.
• Two messengers entered the condemned city.
• The two messengers found shelter with the only God-fearing people in them.
• Their hospitality became the catalyst for their rescue.
• God’s people were led to safety.
• The cities were then completely destroyed.

It was when I realized that the two angels who entered Sodom were sent to rescue Lot that I recognized God’s greater purpose behind the two spies’ mission to Jericho. Beneath Joshua’s military objective lay God’s redemptive mission—to rescue Rahab before judgment fell. I was blown away by this revelation of God’s unrelenting love for us sinners.

However, the differences between the story of Lot and Rahab, are also revealing.

• Lot was already part of God’s covenant family. Rahab was not.
• Lot hesitated and had to be urged to leave Sodom (Genesis 19:16).
• Rahab eagerly aligned herself with God’s people, risking her own life to protect the spies.
• Lot lost most of his family.
• Rahab’s entire household was spared.

The contrast reminds us that God’s grace is never determined by a person’s past or present. Faith—not heritage, reputation, strength or power—is what God honors.

Rahab’s Story Didn’t End at Jericho

This is perhaps, the most beautiful thing we learn from Rahab’s story. God’s rescue of her was really only the beginning of her story.

Rahab and her family became part of the Israelite nation. And she married the son of Nashon, former leader of the tribe of Judah at the Exodus. (Numbers 1:7) She became the great-great-grandmother of King David. And centuries later, Matthew included her in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).

The former prostitute from Jericho became an ancestor of the Messiah.

The writer of Hebrews lists her among the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:31).

James points to her as an example of living faith expressed through action (James 2:25).

Only God could write a story like that.

What Rahab Teaches Us About God

Joshua thought he was sending spies. God was sending hope. Hidden behind the walls of an enemy city was a woman who had come to believe in Him.

• God saw her.
• God pursued her.
• God rescued her.

Rahab’s story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. We tend to focus on someone’s failures, but God sees someone worth saving. We may assume a person’s past disqualifies them, but God delights in writing redemption stories.

Long before Rahab became part of Christ’s family tree, she was simply one sinner who believed God’s promise. That has always been enough.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The God who sought Rahab still seeks people today. He still rescues those willing to turn to Him. And His grace is still greater than any past we leave behind.

So why did Joshua Send the two spies to Jericho?

Joshua intended to gather military intelligence. But God used that mission for a far greater purpose—to rescue Rahab before judgment fell. The spies returned with confidence that God would give Israel the land, but through their visit God also revealed His heart to save anyone who places faith in Him.

What a faithful and loving God we serve!

For Further Study

• Joshua 2
• Joshua 6
• Genesis 18–19
• Hebrews 11:31
• James 2:25
• Matthew 1:5

Reflection Questions

• What does Rahab’s story teach you about the kind of people God delights in saving?
• Have you ever assumed someone was beyond God’s grace?
• Is there an area of your own past that makes you question whether God can fully redeem your life?
• How does Rahab’s place in the genealogy of Jesus change the way you view God’s mercy?