when fear translates as faith

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men... to spy secretly,
saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”
So they went,
and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab,
and lodged there...
And upon their return
...they said to Joshua,
“Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands,
for indeed all the inhabitants of the country
are fainthearted because of us.”
Joshua 2:1, 24 NKJV

I can only surmise...
that these words must have been music to Joshua's ears
As it was long ago, Moses sent twelve spies on a similar trek,
to scout out the promised land...
and Joshua had been one of them.
But upon their return,
he was outnumbered by the naysayers.

So for the last forty years, Joshua has been
wandering in the wilderness with these complaining people;
even though he saw what God had promised,
even though he had encouraged the people not to fear.

And how glorious that God led this new generation of spies...
these two younger men, to Rahab.
For she boldly shared her heart with them about what she believed.
And although it seemed that no one told her of God,
no one witnessed to her about Him,
she knew of His power.
and said to the men...
“I know that the Lord has given you the land,
that the terror of you has fallen on us,
and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted
because of you. 
For we have heard how the Lord dried up
the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt,
and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites
who were on the other side of the Jordan,
Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 
And as soon as we heard these things,our hearts melted;
neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you,
for the Lord your God,
He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Joshua 2:9-11

Yes, God had begun to reveal Himself to Rahab,
even from a distance.
She had seen His mighty power working.
And how awesome it was that God led these spies
to someone that feared God,
not to fight against Him...
nor to fight against them.
But rather to save and shelter them,
in order to be saved by Him... through them.

But also what she revealed to them,
was soon relayed to Joshua.
And words that described fear and discouragement of one people,
were translated into words of encouragement...
words that brought courage and rallied another people ~ God's people,
to cross over and follow God into their promised land.

Word of God... train me, today...
to let my fear and awe of You lead me to a deeper faith in You,
to translate Your word as a source of courage that rallies me to my purpose.

Lord,
thank You for strong examples
of women such as Rahab.
Help me to see Your mighty works
in the world around me.

Open my heart to learn
an honest sense of reverence and fear
that ceases to be amazed at Your wonder.

Help me to be brave and bold
in my faith,
courageous and encouraged
​by Your word.