20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.
22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
Because of the Canaanite stronghold of rebellion against God and the intense idolatry, this was a threat against the right kind of living that God required for the Israelites. If the Canaanites were not removed, their sin would affect Israel like a cancerous growth. But, there were a few items and people that were not destroyed. Rahab and her household were saved because she had faith in God and because she had helped the Israelites. There was some silver, gold, and bronze items saved for the Tabernacle and its services. The purpose of removing the stronghold of rebellion was to keep his people’s faith and religion uncontaminated. God wants you to be pure. He wants you to have clean behavior. When you begin your new life with him when you come to faith and are saved by the blood of Jesus, you have a new life. You have a spiritual purpose in your new life. Reject objects and reminders of your old life of rebellion. Walk in peace, life, and joy in your new life with God our Father, Jesus our Lord, and the Holy Spirit our Helper.
