day . . .
What you did was wrong, Marie. I’m not going to tell you otherwise.
But it’s been close to a year now. Don’t you think it’s time to move on with your life?
I know. But . . . it keeps coming back to haunt me. I just can’t forget.
Let go of what happened. Forgive yourself.
I remember all those looks on me . . . and the shame.
Marie . . . ?
I feel so tainted!
I knew at that time that it was the wrong thing to do and yet . . .
I thought I was better than that. But I’m just as messed up as everyone else.
Now I have to face the consequence of my choices, and think about the type of person I’ve become.
The only way to start afresh, on a clean slate . . .
. . . is to know the One who knows everything about us, yet still loves us.
Come, Marie.
Let me tell you the story of another woman.
The sun rises . . . on yet another day . . .
God, if You are out there, tell me . . .
How do I escape . . . from this life?
Jericho, the City of Palms. A prosperous city. The valley is fertile and well-watered, overflowing with abundant crops and luscious fruits. Everywhere you look, there is abundance.
and there are always those who can’t afford it.
But there is always a price to pay,
The Israelites?
Yes, the Israelites, silly!
Rahab, did you hear the news about the Israelites?
Word recently arrived that their leader Moses is dead.
The ex-Egyptian slaves!
Er . . . What about them?
He just vanished up a mountain and never came down.
And you’ll never guess where they are now.
He has ordered the watchmen and the army to keep a sharp lookout for any Israelites in the vicinity.
What?!
Where?
Our king is frantic.
Who knows what they’ll do to us!
It seems that they’re right opposite the Jordan River!
Yikes! And they’ve defeated the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River.
Don’t worry. I’m sure no Israelite would ever be able to get past our defences! Our mud walls are 46 feet high.
Even if they got past the first wall, they’d be stuck in the gap between that and the second wall.
Our defenders and watchmen would then pick them off like flies!
Meanwhile, in the Israelite camp.
O mighty God who led us out of slavery in Egypt . . .
You have brought and sustained us this far. All praise and glory to Your Name.
Joshua . . .
Just in time, fellows.
Continue to be with us and bless us as we move forward to the land you have promised to us.
So what is the plan?
It is a strongly fortified city, and we need to gather as much information about it as possible. It shall be done, Joshua.
Here’s what I need you to do.
Scout out the land opposite the Jordan, especially around Jericho.
May God keep you safe from the enemies.
City of Jericho
And yet now, the more I think about how the Israelites had moved despite all odds through the desert, defeating the great and mighty kings Sihon and Og, I began to think . . .
As a child, when I had heard the stories of the miracles that followed the Israelites, they had seemed like unbelievable tales.
How could any god turn the sea into dry land for people to walk on it? How could darkness cover just the Egyptians, but spare the Israelites? It couldn’t be real.
Maybe the God of Israel is the one true God?
Oh, travellers. Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen . . .
Madam, we require one room to stay for a night.
Israelites!
I’m sorry if we startled you, we just need some shelter for the ni—
How did you get in?
Don’t you know you’re not safe?
We are just travellers, looking for a room to spend the night . . .
You’re Israelites. You are a threat to this city. The king has issued a decree for you to be turned in.
This is the Jericho police force. Open the door!
Open the door NOW!
Quick, come with me!
Hide under these stalks of flax, hurry!
So . . . ?
What are you guys waiting for? Go on! I will hold them off!
STOP!
Charge!
Yes, how can I help you sir?
Good evening madam. How are you doing?
Sorry to disturb you madam.
We are the Jericho police force.
What brings you here at this hour?
Why hello officer.
Oh, right!
Yes . . . we have good reason to believe that two of their spies came here earlier today.
Madam, I think you must have heard about the Israelites who have set up camp near our city. They are extremely dangerous— Oh my!
Are you certain? How frightful!!!
Now that you mention it . . . there were two strangers . . .
They must be the Israelites you’re talking about.
Madam, we must ask you to turn them over to us immediately.
Yes . . . well. As such, I must ask you to allow us to enter and arrest them.
Get ready . . .
But officer . . . the men have already left.
At dusk, just before the gates closed. I could tell they were foreigners, but I didn’t ask where they came from.
If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them before they exit Jericho.
Thank you for your cooperation madam.
Hold!
We . . . we are sorry.
Madam, Thank you for helping us.
How did you get into Jericho?
Well,
We simply came in when the gates opened, but we didn’t count on having to stay so long.
We followed some merchants’ directions to this place when we asked for shelter. We’re travelling businessmen, you see . . .
Please. I know better than that.
You are here to spy on Jericho and bring information back to your leader.
I’m not surprised that you Israelites managed to slip past our defences.
But now I suppose the end of our city is near.
I admit, we are here because our leader sent us to spy out the land.
But why did you lie to those police to protect us?
I know your God has given you this land. All of Jericho is afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror.
Our reputation has gone ahead of us, I see.
We also know that you completely destroyed the Amorites east of the Jordan River and what you did to their kings Sihon and Og.
There is no nation that has not heard of how your God made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt.
Everyone is afraid! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things.
Our army may be strong and ferocious, but they know they don’t have a chance.
Your walls are strong and your fighters are fierce. Aren’t you confident in their power to protect your city?
Your faith is amazing.
The Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below, and nothing, least of all Jericho, will be able to stand in His way if He has decided to overcome us.
But you still have not answered me: why did you lie to protect us? Won’t they do terrible things to you if they find out?
Swear to me by your God that you will be kind to my family and me since I have helped you.
Which is why I have a request. Name it.
When you conquer Jericho, there will be nothing left. Give me some guarantee that you will let me live,
along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families. Promise me that you will not harm us.
If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land. We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety!
The God of Israel is the one true God. I’m glad that you’ve chosen to place your faith in Him.
It’s been three days since the spies came.
Three days ago . . .
Come, you must get out of here. It is not safe for you inside Jericho.
I do not know if the police will come back to question me again, but you must not be here when that happens.
Escape to the hills and hide there for three days from the men searching for you.
Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.
Alright . . . but how do we get out without your neighbours noticing?
When you live in the city walls, it’s easy to escape through the windows.
What is this?
When we come to conquer Jericho, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from this window.
All your family members— your father, mother, brothers, and all the relatives you intend to save—must be here inside this house.
Our oath requires you to follow these instructions. If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on the people inside this house, we will accept responsibility for their death.
Come on! Quickly!
if you betray us—
Then you will not be held to your oath. I understand.
I understand. And . . .
Now you should hurry, and go.
I have no way of knowing if the two Israelites spies made it back safely to their camp. If they were caught and if they reveal that I helped them, I would be labelled as a traitor.
But I kept reminding myself of the miracles that their God had performed.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but as the days passed, I wondered if I might have once again made a wrong decision.
How could it be a wrong choice to choose a God who has proven Himself so faithful and true to His own?
We are back.
We escaped! (Phew...)
Welcome back.
Our enemies are terrified of us, and their morale is low.
Praise God for keeping you both safe and sound! What is the report on our enemies?
They will never be able to stand against us. The Lord has given us this land.
Tell the people to pack their things. Every man, woman, child and animal must be ready to move at dawn.
Where do we tell them we are going?
We’re heading for Jericho.
Everyone, we have to go now.
Pack up whatever is important.
Where are we going exactly?
I heard we are heading to Jericho.
The reports started flooding in to Jericho.
Updates on the Israelites’ whereabouts spread through the streets of Jericho.
But when they set up camp on the opposite bank of the Jordan, people living in the City of Palms did not know what to think.
It was harvest season, and everyone knew that the Jordan was overflowing its banks.
How were they going to get across with all their women, children, animals and elderly?
“The Israelites have packed up and left Acacia Grove.”
For three days there was no sign of movement. We began to wonder if perhaps their plans had changed.
Maybe they would be content to stop there instead and become our close neighbours. Who knew?
I continued to live day by day . . . . . . wondering if it would end like that.
And then the news came!
Rahab!
“The Israelites have crossed the Jordan.”
Did you hear?
The Israelites have crossed the Jordan River!!! THEY CROSSED IT! No!!!
All of them. EVERY SINGLE ONE!
It’s uncanny, really. It seems that a group of their Levites, their priests, carried their Ark, you know, the holy relic?
The Ark of the Covenant?
Yeah, that one! So anyway, they carried this Ark . . .
out of the camp in the morning, and all the Israelites started trailing half a mile behind it.
Eventually they reach the edge of the Jordan.
And you know how the water is on a permanent high tide right now, right?
But their priests, they just kept walking, straight into the water, carrying their holy Ark and everything! And . . . you’ll never believe what happened next! What? What??
As soon as their priests’ feet touch the river, the water downstream from that point kept flowing.
How did that happen?
Who knows. It’s definitely their God doing this. The same thing happened at the Red Sea when the Israelites came out of Egypt, remember?
But the water upstream from that point starts backing up a great distance away at the town called Adam, you know, the one near Zarethan?
And with the water separating and going both ways, soon the bottom of the river is just there and all of them simply walk over!
Our spies say that their Ark was the first in and the last out. It’s got to be their God who was pushing back the water to clear the path for them!
How will our men fight against the people of a God who can part seas and rivers?
O God of Israel, you are mighty indeed!
We’re doomed!!!
Oh goodness, they’re coming for us!!
Why did I doubt? There is absolutely nothing You cannot do.
Citizens of Jericho! The king has decreed that in lieu of the threat of the Israelites who are camping nearby,
the gates of the city will be shut, effective immediately. Once closed, none will be allowed to go in or out until this danger has passed.
Take care, Rahab.
Goodbye girls. I have to visit my family. Bring them over to my place to keep them safe.
But how silly! To think that man-made walls and gates can stop a God who can push the Jordan’s full waters back upstream.
Jericho doesn’t stand a chance.
Push!
And the Lord said to Joshua . . .
Let’s move!
“I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.”
Come look at this. What is happening? Mother?
The Israelites are here!
The Israelites are coming for us! Run! Everyone!
The Ark of the Covenant . . .
The thing that they are carrying . . .
Could it be . . .
The holy thing that held back the Jordan so they could cross?
Yes, mother.
Is that Moses?
No, mother. Moses is dead, remember? It’s their new leader.
You there! Leader of the Israelites! Show yourself!
This is the last warning! Do not get any closer!
What are they up to?
Everyone, get ready!
Rahab, get away from the window.
I think they are going to attack the wall now.
No, wait, mother . . .
I think they are . . . parading?
Are you kidding me?
Their priests are just blowing the horns . . . What is going on?
What are they doing?
They’re not even attacking, just walking around the city.
Wait . . . I think they stopped . . .
What are they up to now?
They are heading back! They are retreating!
They just leave? Like that?
Fellow citizens, the wall holds! We are safe!
Right, go back to where you came from! Cowards!
The Israelites— what strange people . . .
Come, Rahab. Help me to prepare dinner.
Yes, mum. There must be a reason behind their actions.
There was determination on their faces, each and every one of them.
Rahab, are you okay?
I’m fine. The knife slipped off my hands.
What’s going on?
The next day, the Israelites held their parade again.
The following day too . . . and also on the day after . . .
Put it back!! That rope will ensure our safety when the Israelites attack!
Mother! Where is my red rope?
The one that was hanging by the window? YES.
I took it down.
Huh?
