RAHAB studied the distant plain of Jericho from herwindow in the city wall, her heart stirring with fear andexcitement. Out there, just beyond the Jordan River, theIsraelites were encamped, only the floodwaters holdingthem back. Soon they would cross over and come againstthe king of Jericho with the same ferocity they had shownin battle against Sihon, Og, and the five kings of Midian.And everyone in Jericho would die.

The king had doubled the guard at the gate and postedsoldiers on the battlements. But it would do no good.Destruction was on the horizon. The only hope was tosurrender and plead for mercy. The king worried about thesize of the invading army, but he failed to see the realdanger: the God of the Hebrews. All of Pharaoh's warriorshadn't been enough to defeat Him forty years ago. Not eventhe pantheon of gods and goddesses had saved Egypt. Butall the king of Jericho could think about was improving thebattlements, stockpiling weapons, and increasing thenumber of soldiers! Did men never learn?

Jericho was doomed!

And she was imprisoned inside the city, bound by a lifeshe had carved out for herself years ago. What hope hadshe, a harlot? Her fate had been set in motion years ago,when she was little more than a child, a peasant's daughtersummoned by a king.

"You must go!" her father had said. "As long as you livein the palace and please him, I shall prosper. He's arrangingmarriages for your sisters. And if you refuse, he will haveyou nonetheless, killing me to remove any obstacles. Thinkof the honor he bestows upon you. He chooses only themost beautiful girls, Rahab."

An honor? "And will he marry me, Father?" Her fathercouldn't look into her eyes. She knew the answer. The kinghad several wives, all of whom he had married for politicaladvantages. She had nothing a king needed?merely a bodyhe wanted to use.

Even then, young as she had been, she knew that lustburned hot but eventually turned to ashes. In a week, amonth, a year perhaps, the king would tire of her and sendher home wearing a beautiful Babylonian robe and a fewpieces of gold jewelry her father would confiscate and sellfor his own profit.

"When I return, will you allow me to sell dates and pomegranatesin the marketplace again, Father, or will I end uplike so many others? Selling my body for a loaf of bread?"

He had covered his face and wept. She'd hated him fortaking advantage of her ruin, hated him for making excuses,hated him for telling her she would be better off in the king'spalace than in the grove hut where he and her mother andbrothers and sisters lived. She hated him because he had nopower to save her.

She had hated her own helplessness most of all.

Even in her wrath, Rahab had known her father couldn'tsave her from the king's lust. A king could take what hewanted. Any gifts he gave were meant to dissolve thoughtsof revenge. Life was hard and uncertain, but if the rightopportunity arose, a beautiful daughter could make afather's way smooth. Tax exemptions. Land use. Anelevated position in the court. The king was generous whenit served him, but usually his generosity lasted only as longas his lust.

Rahab rested her arms on the window, gazing out. Sheremembered setting foot in the palace that first day, vowingnot to end up as a discarded sandal. She intended to find away to take advantage of her wretched situation and theman who used her. She'd hidden her fury and revulsion,pretending to enjoy the king's embrace. Every moment inhis company, her mind was crouched like a lioness studyingits prey, watching, waiting for his weakness to show. Andshe found it soon enough: the constant arrival of emissaries,spies, and messengers. Without their stream of information,he wouldn't know who his enemies were or what petty jealousiesand rebellions were on the rise.

"Give me a house, and I'll gather information for you,"she had boldly proposed, once her opportunity becameclear to her. How the king had laughed at her sagacity!She'd laughed with him, but continued to entice and solicitfor further benefits. She was tenacious in her determinationto have something tangible when she left the palace, somethingwith which she could make her own way and sustainherself comfortably for a lifetime. She deserved it aftersuffering the caresses of that fat, foul-smelling, arrogant oldman!

Well, she had gotten what she wanted: a house, a prosperousliving, and the illusion of independence. The kinghad given her this house situated near the eastern gate soshe could watch the comings and goings of Jericho. Fortwelve years she'd looked out this window and picked outmen to share her bed, men who might tell her things thatwould protect the king's throne and increase his treasury.Every transaction she made brought a double payment. Themen paid to sleep with her, and the king paid for the grainsof information she gleaned. She knew even more aboutwhat was happening outside the walls of Jericho than theking did. And when she wanted to know what was goingon inside the palace, she beckoned Cabul, the captain of theguard. He could always be counted on to spill out everysecret while in her arms.

She owned half a dozen Babylonian robes, boxes inlaidwith bone and ivory and filled with jewelry. Her house wasfurnished with objects of art, her floor covered with multicolored,woven rugs. Her customers slept on the finestcolored linen sheets from Egypt perfumed with myrrh, aloe,and cinnamon. She could afford tasty delicacies and rich,heady wines. Everyone in the city knew she was a friendand confidante of the king. They also knew she was awhore.

But no one knew how much she hated her life. No oneguessed how helpless she felt in the face of the plans madefor her by father and king. Many would wonder why shehad cause to complain. On the outside, she had an enviablelife. The king respected her, men desired her, and she couldchoose her clientele. There were even women in Jericho whoenvied her independence. They didn't know what it feltlike to be used, stripped of humanity. Even now, despite ahouse of her own and plush surroundings, she was helplessto change anything about her life. She was locked into it.

Yet no one knew the fierce heart that beat within her. Noone suspected the stored resentment, the gathering fury,the aching hunger to break free and escape. She was in aprison others had made for her, a prison she had succeededin filling with earthly treasures. But she had other plans,other dreams and hopes.

And they all depended on the God out there, the One sheknew had the power to save those He chose. Somehow shehad known?even as a young girl hearing the stories forthe first time that He was a true God, the only true One.When He brought His people across the Jordan, He wouldtake this city and crush it as He had crushed all Hisenemies.

The end of everything she had known was in sight.

We're all going to die! Doesn't anyone else see that? Are theyall blind and deaf to what's been happening for the last fortyyears? People come and go as they always have, thinkingeverything is going to be all right. They think the walls we'vebuilt will protect us, just as I thought the walls of my father'shut could protect me all those years ago. And we're not safe?we'renot safe at all!

She was filled with the terror of death, filled even morewith a terrible longing to be a part of what would come. Shewanted to belong to the God who was coming. She felt likea little girl wanting desperately to be swept up in herfather's arms and saved from destruction.

Several months ago, an Egyptian had spent a night tellingher stories of the God of the Israelites. "But everyone saysthose are myths," she had said, wondering whether hebelieved the tales he repeated.

"Oh, no. My father was a boy when the plagues came...." He'd talked far into the night about the signs andwonders and about a man named Moses. "He's dead now,but there's another ... Joshua."

She went to the king the next morning, but he was onlyinterested in tactics, weaponry, numbers. "It's the God ofthe Hebrews you need to fear, my king," she said, but hewaved her away impatiently.

"You disappoint me, Rahab, talking like a hystericalwoman."

She wanted to shout at him. Moses might be a greatleader, but no man could break the might of Egypt. Only atrue God could do that! And He was out there, preparingHis people to take all of Canaan.

But one look into the king's eyes and she knew pride wason the throne. Men listened only to what they wanted tohear.

Now, sitting at her window, she stretched her hands outand waved them. Oh, how I wish I were one of Your people,for You alone are a true God. Her eyes were hot and gritty.I would bow down to You and give You offerings if given thechance! She put her hands down and turned away. Shecould wish all she wanted, but she was going to share thesame fate as everyone else trapped inside these walls. Thisfortress would become a slaughterhouse.

Because the king was stubborn and proud. Because theking thought the walls were high enough and thick enoughto keep him safe. Because he was too stubborn and stupid toput his pride aside for the sake of his people. The king wasafraid of the Israelites, but it was their God he should fear.She had known men all her life, and they were all much thesame. But this God, He was different. She could feel Hispresence in some strange way she couldn't define, and shewas filled with a sense of awe and urgency. Oh, how fortunatewere those who belonged to Him! They had nothing tofear.

Although she had told the king everything she learned,he refused to listen. Still, she kept trying.

"I never knew you to be so fainthearted, my sweet. ThoseHebrews will tuck tail and flee the same way they did fortyyears ago when the Amalekites joined forces with us. Myfather drove them out of the land. If they have such amighty god on their side, why didn't they prevail againstus then? Plagues ... seas opening ..." He sneered. "Mythsto frighten us."

"Have you forgotten Sihon?"

He paled, his eyes narrowing coldly at her reminder. "Noarmy can break through our walls."

"Before it's too late, send emissaries of peace with giftsfor their God."

"What? Are you mad? Do you think our priests wouldagree to that? We have gods of our own to appease!They've always protected us in the past. They'll protect usnow."

"The same way Egypt's gods protected her? Egypt bowsdown to insects, and this God sent swarms to destroy theircrops. They worship their Nile River, and this God turned itto blood."

"They're just stories, Rahab. Rumors to spread fear amongour people. And you add to them! Go back to your house anddo what you do best. Watch for foreign spies...."

And so she did, but not for his sake.

Cabul talked freely last night, boasting of manpower,weapons, and the continuous sacrifices being made to thegods of Canaan. "We'll be fine. Don't worry your prettyhead."

Fools! They were all fools! Surely the God who mockedthe gods of Egypt and opened the Red Sea would find iteasy to break down these walls! What good would stoneand mortar idols do against a God who controlled wind,fire, and water? Rahab was certain that one breath from Hislips would blow open the gates of Jericho. A sweep of Hishand would make rubble of all the king's defenses!

But no one would listen.

So be it. She had given her last warning. Let it be on theking's head what happened to Jericho. She was going tofind a way to align herself with those who would have thevictory. If she didn't, she would die.

How could she get out of Jericho without jeopardizingthe lives of her family members? If she left, the king wouldhave her followed. She would be captured and executed fortreason, and every member of her family would suffer thesame fate to prevent the spread of her rebellion. No, shecouldn't leave Jericho unless she took her father andmother and brothers and sisters and their families with her.But that would be impossible! Even if she could find a wayto leave without arousing suspicion, her family wouldn'tcome. Her father believed whatever the king said. It wasn'tin his nature to think for himself.

Rahab raked her fingers through her hair, pushing thecurly dark mass over her shoulder. "Rahab!" someonecalled from below. She didn't look down. She wasn't interestedin a merchant from Jebus or the owner of a caravantaking spices to Egypt or another soldier from a vanquishedarmy. They were all walking dead. They just didn't know ityet. Only those Hebrews out there beyond the river werealive. For their God was no stone idol carved by humanhands. He was the God of heaven and earth!

And I am just a rat inside a hole in this wall....

What a strange and marvelous God He was! He hadchosen the Hebrews?a nation of slaves?and set them freefrom Egypt, the most powerful nation on earth. He hadtaken the lowest of the low and used them to bring downthe mighty. She'd heard that He'd even rained bread uponHis people. They had nothing to fear, for He was mighty indeeds and yet showed kindness and mercy to them. Whowould not love such a God?

Her king. Her people.

I would love Him! Her mouth trembled, and her eyes werehot with tears. I would serve Him any way He asked. Giventhe chance, I would bow down before Him and rejoice to becounted among His people!

Cabul snored loudly from the bed behind her, remindingher of his unwelcome presence. She pressed her palms overher ears and shut her eyes tightly, filled with self-disgustand anger. If she gave in to her feelings, she would shakethe man awake and scream at him to get out of her house.He hadn't told her anything new last night. Cabul was awaste of her time.

She watched the road again. She had one small glimmer ofhope that had been roused by something her father had toldher. Moses had sent spies into the land forty years ago. "Webeat them back then." She had wondered about that, mullingover reasons for the Israelites' failure. They had beenslaves, freed from mighty Egypt by an even mightier God.But perhaps they had still thought like slaves rather thanmen under the banner of a true God. Perhaps they hadrefused to obey. She could only guess why they had failed.But she knew it was not due to any failure of the God whorescued them.

Those who had rebelled all those years ago must surely bedead by now. A new generation had arisen, a generationwho had been hardened by desert living, a generation whohad been in the presence of Power from their birth. Shecould only hope that Joshua would do as Moses had donebefore him and send spies into the land. And she wouldhave to be the first to spot them. With victory assured bytheir God, the Israelites didn't need to send anyone, but shestill hoped the noble leader Joshua would take nothing forgranted. Even if it wasn't necessary, it would be prudent tosend spies to view the land and evaluate enemy defenses.

Please come. Please, please, please come.... I don't want todie. I don't want my family to die. Send someone.... Open myeyes so that I'll recognize them before the guards do. If they seethem first and report to the king, all is lost!

"Rahab? a man called to her again.

She glanced down impatiently and saw an Ishmaelitemerchant waving at her from among the throng gathered atthe gate. He was eager to lodge with her, but she spread herhands, shrugging and shaking her head. Let his camels keephim warm. He held up a gold necklace to bribe her. Ha!What good would gold do when the day of destructioncame? "Give it to one of your wives!" she called back.Those around him laughed. Another man called up to her,but she ignored the entreaties and flatteries and watchedthe road.

Let them come to me.

If the spies were ragged from wandering, she would givethem beautiful robes from Babylon. If they were thirsty, shewould give them fine wine. If they were hungry, she wouldserve them a feast fit for kings. For they would come asservants of the Most High God. She would show them thehonor meant for the One they served. For mighty was theirGod and worthy of tribute!

Her chest was tight with yearning. She wanted to be safe.As long as she was inside this wall, inside this city, she wascondemned. She had to be counted among the Israelites tosurvive. The gods of the Jerichoans and Amorites andPerizzites and a dozen other tribes who inhabited Canaanwouldn't come to her rescue. They were stone tyrants withcorrupt priests who demanded constant sacrifice. She'd seenbabies taken from their mothers and placed on an altar,their little bodies boiled until the flesh fell away so thebones could be put into small bags and buried beneath thefoundation of a new house or temple. As though murderedchildren could bring good fortune! She was thankful shehad never had a child.

But if I did have one, I would give my baby to the God outthere, the unseen One who dwells with His people, who shadesthem by day and keeps them warm at night, the One whoprotects those who belong to Him as though they were Hischildren. A God like Him could be trusted....

"Ah, the light." Cabul groaned. "Close the curtains!"

Rahab clenched her teeth; she kept her back to him. Itwas time the man was gone from her bed and her house."The sun is up," she said in a pleasant voice. "Time youwere as well."

She heard a muffled curse and the rustle of linen. "You'rehard-hearted, Rahab."

She glanced at him over her shoulder and forced a sultrysmile. "You didn't say that last night." She looked out thewindow again, searching, hoping to see someone wholooked like an Israelite spy. What would one look like?How would she recognize one if he did come?

Cabul slid his arm around her waist and reached up to liftthe curtain from the hook. "Come back to bed, my love."He pressed his lips to the curve of her neck.

She caught his hand before it could move to caress her."The king will hear you're missing from your post. Iwouldn't want to get you into trouble."

He laughed softly, his breath hot in her hair. "I won'tbe late."

She turned in his arms. "You must go, Cabul." She puther hands against his chest. "Your absence at the gate willbe noticed, and I'll not have it said that Rahab caused afriend trouble."

"You are causing me pain right now."

"You're man enough to survive a small discomfort."

He caught her hand as she moved away from him. "Isthere a rich merchant below?"

"No."

"I heard someone calling your name."

"And what if you did?" Did he think putting a few coinsin her hand meant he owned her? "You know what I do fora living."

He frowned, his eyes darkening.

Stifling her annoyance, she brushed her fingertips downhis cheek and softened her tone. "Don't forget I came out ofmy house to find you." In her business, it was always wiseto send a man away feeling he was someone special.

He grinned. "So you love me a little."

"Enough to wish you no harm." She allowed him to kissher briefly and then disentangled herself. "A crowd is waitingat the gate, Cabul. It's time you opened it. If themerchants are annoyed, the king will hear about it." Shecrossed the room, leaned down, and swept up his clothes.Opening the door, she tossed them back at him. "You'dbetter hurry? She laughed as she watched him dress hastily,then closed the door behind him. Dropping the bar tokeep any would-be visitors out, she hurried back to herpost at the window.

Solitude was a luxury. She stepped up and sat in thewindow, one leg dangling out. Ignoring the whistles frombelow, she watched the plain. Was that a column of smokein the distance? She couldn't be sure. She had heard thatthe Israelites' God accompanied them as a column of smokeduring the day and a pillar of fire at night.

When the heat became oppressive, she closed thecurtains, left the window, and brushed her hair. She atebread and sipped wine. But every few minutes, she partedthe red-dyed linen and looked out again, studying everystranger who walked along the road.

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