IMITATE THEIR FAITH - RAHAB THE PROSITUTE - Continue

 Jehovah was not blind to what was going on in Canaan. In fact, because of the many wicked practices of the Canaanites, Jehovah said: "The land is unclean, and I shall bring punishment for its error upon it, and the land will vomit its inhabitants out." (Leviticus 18:25) What did "punishment for its error" involve? In general, Israel was given this divine promise: "Jehovah your God will certainly push these nations away from you little by little." (Deuteronomy 7:22) Centuries earlier, Jehovah had promised the land to the family of Abraham, and "God . . . cannot lie." - TITUS 1:2; GENESIS 12:7.

However, Jehovah also decreed that certain groups in the land were to be completely wiped out. (Deuteronomy 7:1, 2) As the righteous "Judge of all the earth," he had read every heart and knew well how deeply entrenched their wickedness and depravity were. (Genesis 18:25; 1 Chronicles 28:9) What was it like for Rahab to live in such a condemned city? We can only imagine how she felt as reports about Israel reached her ears. She learned that the God of Israel had led his people-a downtrodden nation of slaves-to complete victory over the army of Egypt, the mightiest fighting force in the world of that time. And now Israel was about to attack Jericho! Yet, the people of that city persisted in their wickedness. We can see why the Bible speaks of Rahab's fellow Canaanites as "those who acted disobediently." - HEBREWS 11:31.

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH - RAHAB THE PROSTITUTE - Conclusion

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