What Does Joshua 2:6-7 Mean?
Joshua 2:6-7 describes how Rahab hid the two Israelite spies on her roof under stalks of flax, right after the king’s men started chasing them. The gate of Jericho was shut, protecting the spies because of her courage and faith. This moment shows how God uses ordinary people in risky situations to fulfill His promises.
Joshua 2:6-7
But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Joshua
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1400 BC
Key People
- Rahab
- the two Israelite spies
Key Themes
- Faith in action
- God's use of unlikely people
- Divine protection through human courage
Key Takeaways
- God uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes.
- Faith means acting courageously even in the face of danger.
- God’s grace welcomes outsiders into His redemptive story.
Rahab’s Quick Thinking and the Spies on the Roof
After sending the king’s soldiers on a false trail, Rahab protected the two Israelite spies by hiding them right on her roof under stacks of flax.
This was a risky move, but the flax - dried and ready for processing - was thick enough to conceal them. The city gate shut behind the pursuers, sealing the spies inside Jericho but safe in Rahab’s home.
The men chasing them headed toward the Jordan River, searching the fords, completely fooled by Rahab’s lie. This moment sets the stage for the deeper conversation to come between Rahab and the spies about faith and deliverance.
Flax Stalks and Faith: Rahab’s Risky Shelter
Rahab hid the spies in flax stalks because everyday life in ancient Jericho used flax on rooftops and walls.
Flax was a valuable crop, and laying it out to dry on flat roofs was common practice, making the spies’ hiding spot both practical and unnoticed. Rahab, a Canaanite woman, took a huge risk by defying her king, showing that her faith in Israel’s God was real and active. Her choice to protect the spies echoes later in Scripture when Matthew includes her in Jesus’ family line, saying, 'Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David' (Matthew 1:5).
This moment shows more than escape; it reveals how God welcomes outsiders who turn to Him, long before Jesus broke down the wall between Jew and Gentile.
Rahab’s Faith and God’s Faithfulness
Rahab’s quick decision to hide the spies demonstrates faith that required real courage, both in words and in action.
She risked her life because she believed the God of Israel was real and stronger than the kings and walls around her, a faith so strong that Hebrews 11:31 says, 'By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.'
This story matters because it shows God can use anyone - even someone far from His people or living in a broken system - when they choose to trust Him. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t about being perfect, but about turning to God when it’s risky.
Rahab’s choice points forward to a bigger truth: God’s plan has always included people from every nation who put their trust in Him, setting the stage for what He would do through Jesus.
Rahab and the Family of Jesus: A Sign of God’s Grace for All
Rahab’s bold act of faith saved her life and earned her a surprising place in the story of salvation, pointing forward to Jesus.
She appears in Matthew’s genealogy with the words, 'Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab' (Matthew 1:5), showing that God’s plan always included outsiders, and James 2:25 affirms her faith in action: 'Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?'
This reminds us that Jesus came for sinners and strangers, not only for the religious or the righteous - grace reaches far, as it did for Rahab on that rooftop.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I once heard a woman share how, after years of hiding her past and feeling unworthy, she read about Rahab and broke down in tears. She said, 'If God could use a woman like her - a nobody from the wrong side of the tracks - to protect His people and even place her in the family line of Jesus, then maybe there’s hope for me.' That moment changed how she saw herself. She stopped running from her mistakes and started trusting that God could use her right where she was, not after she got perfect, but now. Rahab’s story reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear. It is choosing to act on faith even when you are scared or feel disqualified. And that kind of faith changes everything - how we see ourselves, how we live, and how we hope.
Personal Reflection
- When have I stayed silent out of fear, even when I knew God was calling me to act?
- What ‘flax stalks’ - ordinary things in my daily life - could I use to help someone in need or stand for my faith?
- Do I believe God can use me, even with my past or doubts, as He used Rahab?
A Challenge For You
This week, identify one small but brave step you can take to live out your faith - maybe speaking up for someone, sharing a word of hope, or admitting you need God’s help. Then take that step, trusting that faith means acting, not waiting until you feel ready.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank you that you don’t wait for us to be perfect before you use us. Like Rahab, I come to you with a messy story, but I want to trust you with courage. Help me to act on faith, even in small ways, and remind me that you welcome everyone who turns to you. Use my life, as I am, to be part of your bigger story. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Joshua 2:1-5
Sets the scene as the spies enter Rahab’s house, leading directly to their concealment.
Joshua 2:8-11
Reveals Rahab’s confession of faith, building on her courageous act of hiding the spies.
Connections Across Scripture
Hebrews 11:31
Echoes Rahab’s faith, showing how her actions were remembered in the hall of faith.
James 2:25
Reinforces that Rahab was justified by works, linking faith with tangible action.