RAHAB KINDLY HELPS THE SPIES

 

Preparation: Tell the children that during the story when they hear you say, “Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock” they are to knock on their chairs five times.

Story: Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.  (Children knock.) 

Rahab wondered who would be knocking at her door.  She lived in Jericho, in a house which stood on one of the thick stone walls surrounding the city.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.  (Children knock.)

Rahab opened the door to find two men whom she did not know.  Moses had sent two brave and wise spies to check out Jericho — to get any information which would be helpful before they captured the city  The men said to Rahab, “Your king knows we are in the city and we need to hide. Can you kindly help us?”

“l’ll be happy to help you,” Rahab told them. “I heard about the miracle which God performed in parting the Red Sea to help you escape from Egypt. I know your God is powerful. I know he is going to help you conquer our city. Come quick!  You can hide on the top of my flat roof.  I’ll cover you with flax stalks.  Stay still, be quiet and no one will find you.”

Their plan worked but the king locked all the gates of the city. The spies said: “You were so kind to help us but now what are we going to do?  We are trapped inside your house.”

Rahab said to the men: “I’ll be happy to help you again.  I know a way you can escape.  But I need to know that you will be kind to me since I was kind to you.  Will you promise that when our city is captured, my life will be spared and also the lives of my family members?”

The two spies agreed. So Rahab found a long rope, which was a bright red color, and let it down from one of her windows.  Before sliding down the rope to safety, the men said to her: ”When we come to capture your city, hang this red rope from your window.  The red cord will alert our soldiers not to harm you and your family when we invade Jericho.”

Sing: Rahab’s Grace from Dancing in the Desert album. (Click on song title to hear a clip.)