A “through the bible” devotion from Joshua 2.
A few years back, a couple of older men in my congregation – Phil and Gene – would always go to a barbershop on Main Street in Daytona Beach. In those days, Main Street was ground zero for Bike Week and Biketoberfest activities. The street was lined with bars, tattoo parlors, souvenir shops, and from time to time, some “working” ladies. Neither gentleman had a lot of hair, and all the magazines were really old, but they enjoyed the sights and sounds of that part of town. They justified their presence by claiming they were doing “evangelism.”
I’ve always found it entertaining that the first thing Joshua’s two spies do is go to a prostitute in Jericho.
“Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and rested there” (Joshua 2:1).
It’s also entertaining to read uncomfortable commentators insist that the spies never engaged Rahab’s services. So what if they had? Would it be all that surprising if they acted like sailors on shore leave in an exotic port?
Ironically, their mission does include some evangelism. Rahab hides them, lies for them, and confesses the Lord to be God in heaven above and on earth below (2:11).
A lot of people got upset when Jesus spent time with sinners and tax collectors. So what if he did? They probably had better parties anyway.
Waite for it... 