Introduction
I’m having a hard time recalling the exact identity of the sponsor; it may have been Kenyan Film Corporation but I am not certain. What I cannot forget however is how we the Eastlanders–better known as “wasee wa mtaa”– would be treated to a free cinema at least one evening a week all year round. The Kombi, ferrying the crew, the motion-picture projector and thank goodness the generator, would arrive around six o’clock and park in a field in Lumumba estate. In no time the gigantic screen would be set up. When a good number of people had gathered from the neigbouring estates, makadush, Ofafa Kunguni, Jeri, Buru and when it was dark nicely the generator would be turned on and the reel would start rolling. For some reason the genre of film that was in vogue at that time was Western. This category of movies if you recall was characterized by horse riders and gun-shooters. The climax of a Western would be when only one person or one gang remained standing having shot dead all the opponents. The last person standing, we called “fello.” His gang we called “gang ya fello.” As a teenager, Fello and his gang were our heroes. I know that because one of the games that we played quite often and which we thoroughly enjoyed was “game ya kushutiana.” You knew you had been shot when your opponent pointed two fingers at you and uttered “dushu ngeo.” The rule was that if you were shot you had to die. It would upset the shooter a lot if the person shot at refused to die. Ukikata ku dedi iyo ilikwa noma sana. Why the upset? Because everyone wanted to be “fello”– the last person to remain standing having shot dead all his/her opponents. So the question is not whether we adopt heroes or heroines because we do. The question is whether the hero or heroine we adopt is worth emulating. Biblical heroes and heroines are worth emulating and listening to. Biblical heroes and heroines may not be perfect– they need not be since they are human. But the fact that what they represent has found its way into the Holy Book makes it imperative that we give heed to what they have to say. My prayer as we begin to day is that we would all adopt Rahab as our heroine and take into serious consideration the principle that she stands for.
Sermon Proper
Please turn with me to the book of Joshua ch. 2.
Leaping out of this text is one exhortation that I pray we will give serious consideration. Rising from the text and addressed to all of us is this exhortation: “Break ranks with them losers!”
Who is a loser? I am glad you asked. When I say “loser” I am not thinking “loser” as defined by the Dictionary. According to the Dictionary there are two sub-definitions of the term loser. Sports-wise the term refers to a contestant or team that loses like let’s say Harambee stars in as far as Eastern and central African senior cup championship is concerned , or say the cowboys this season. Informally the term refers to a person who has been convicted of misdemeanor or an individual who has failed at a particular activity such as holding a job etc. When we say loser we do not have in mind either of these two sub-definitions. None of these losses whether it be loss in sports, or conviction for felony or trouble holding a job– none of these losses is truly deadly. Losing a game is not supposed to be the end of the world. You would normally not be hanged for committing misdemenour crimes. The problem of not holding job is not untreatable. When we say “loser” we are thinking deadly loss–loss unto destructive judgment, loss that entails perishing.
Folks “Break ranks with them losers!” I want us to spend the rest of the remaining time interacting with two principles that stem directly from this exhortation

Principle #1: You have not come to the decision to break ranks with them losers, those destined for destructive judgment until you yourself are fully convinced of the reality of that destructive judgment
It was a reality that the inhabitants of Jericho were destined for destructive judgment. There was nothing illusional or imaginative about this. The land of Canaan which Jericho was part of had been a target of destructive judgment for a long long time. Way back in Genesis–we are talking some 400 years before the events recorded in Josh 2 would transpire, in a conversation with Abraham, God made his intent clear that the inhabitants of Canaan would be disinherited and their land would be given to Abraham’s descendants: “To your descendants, God declared to Abraham, I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” (Gen 15:18-20). So the judgmental decision to disinherit Canaan had been made way back there. Later revelation clarified that the the process of the disinheritance would entail total destruction of the inhabitants: My angel, God declared in Exod 23:23, will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. ”I will wipe them out” is a language of annhilation. The designated agent of annhilation in reality was not God himself as much as Exod 23:23 says that he was. In reality the agent was to be the nation of Israel. So to Israel is given the command in Deut 7:1 ¶ When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations — the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you — Deut. 7:2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you, Israel, must destroy them totally. Notice again the language of annhilation–”you must destroy them totally”–and that’s an injunction directed to Israel. So Israel was to be God’s fighting machine. We don’t have the time to illustrate how this machine, Israel, effectively carried out its mission of annhilation especially between the time-frame when they crossed the Red Sea and the time they finally camped opposite Jericho on the other side of the Jordan with Joshua as their commander. The records are clear. Israel played its role decisively annhilating on the way tow formidable opponents– Sihon of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan. And in Josh 2:1 its is clear that God’s fighting machine was set to take Jericho out. Look at Josh. 2:1 ¶ Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.
Question: How did the inhabitants of Jericho respond to the reality of the destructive judgment that was about to overtake them? Look with me at v 9b-11a: Rahab is speaking here and that representatively : dread of you has fallen on us (the inhabitants of Jericho), and (that) all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you. Josh. 2:10: For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. Josh. 2:11: As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you). So how did the inhabitants of Jericho respond to the reality of destructive judgment and, more importantly, how was their reaction different from Rahab’s. Based on vv9b-11a that we have just read, the inhabitants of Jericho were gripped by dread (v. 9b says that “ dread of Israel had fallen on them”) and they lost courage (v. 11a). Now how did Rahab respond to the reality of the destructive judgment? Like the rest of the inhabitants of Jericho for whom she spoke representatively in vv 9b-11a, dread fell upon her (v. 9b) and she lost courage (v. 11a)
However, unlike the rest of the inhabitants of Jericho, Rahab was the only one who was able to categorically state that it was all over for Jericho. Look at v. 9a: “I know that the LORD has given you the land. Behind this confession is the conviction that the forthcoming destructive judgment against Jericho is as real as it is sure. There is no escape:I know that the LORD has given you the land .

You have not come to the decision to break ranks with them losers, those destined for destructive judgment until you yourself, like Rahab and unlike the rest of the inhabitants of Jericho, are fully convinced of the reality of that destructive judgment. “I Know that the Lord has given you the land”, Rahab said.
I do not know how many non-believers are in the house today. Neither will I request that you raise your hand. God knows who you are. And you know yourself too . If you are unsure, you know you are non-believer if:

(1) you answer “no” or “not sure” to the question: Supposing you were to drop dead right now, are you sure you would go to heaven? and

(2) you are a non-believer if your response to the searching question: Supposing you are to drop dead this second and were to appear before God and God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my kingdom?” If your answer excludes the firm confession “I have been washed by the blood of the lamb,” then you are most likely a non-believer. Non-believer hire me momentarily as your watchman or as your weatherman because that is exactly how I wish to serve you. Thanks for the hire. Now please allow me to share with you the latest newsflash. All evidence show beyond a shadow of doubt that the tornado of God’s wrath is about to touchdown. The only reason we know that is because the forecast reveals so. The forecast reads as follows: He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come Rev. 14:7 .. The forecast also reads: They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Rev. 6:16-17 . Here is one other piece of scary information that you might want to keep in mind. All evidence show beyond a shadow of doubt that — let me name it “tornado terror”– All evidence show beyond a shadow of doubt that “tornado terror” is programmed to be selective in its destruction. Those upon whom the tornado is programmed to land are the non-believers. Believers fall outside the path of “tornado terror.” And the only reason we know that is because the forecast says so. The forecast reads: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, Rom. 1:18. The forecast also reads: But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed Rom. 2:5 . That marks the end of the newsflash. That marks the end of the forecast. Non believer I appreciate your hiring me momentarily as your watchman or your weatherman. But now I request for dismissal or should I say I request for voluntary retrenchment. But as I get out of your face, I leave you with the words of Ezekiel :
Ezek. 33:2 “Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, Ezek. 33:3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, Ezek. 33:4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Ezek. 33:5 Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. )

So far we have looked at one principle that emerges from the exhortation “Break ranks with them loser” and that principle again is
You have not come to the decision to break ranks with them losers, those destined for destructive judgment until you yourself are fully convinced of the reality of that destructive judgment .”

Here is the second principle: True conviction of the reality of destructive judgment manifests itself in your taking the appropriate steps to remove yourself from the path of destruction.
Over and above her expression of conviction that the forthcoming destructive judgment was real, Rahab took the following appropriate steps:
Step#1. She was receptive towards her source of salvation. Look at the end of v.1 (” So they, i.e the two spies, went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and spent the night there.). Someone might raise the accusation: Rahab, why should we not think that your friendliness and hospitality towards these two men had a lot to do with the fact that you perceived them as clients . To that accusation Rahab would respond: I understand why you would accuse me as such. After all my full name is Rahab the prostitute. But I would really love for you to take me at my word. First of all and speaking for the men, they did not present themselves at the door as clients. The only reason they chose my house was because as a known brothel, my place afforded them the opportunity to remain undercover as they carried out their spying mission. Secondly and this time speaking for myself, I can assure you that the moment I caught glance of them, I did not see clients, I saw the source of my salvation. When the King’s messengers came banging at my door– bang! bang! Look at v.3 they were shouting and demanding ( “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land”). It is not for clients that I turned unpatriotic, it is not for clients that I lied– vv 4 (Josh. 2:4.. “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. ) and v 5 (Josh. 2:5 … Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.). I lied, not to clients; these men were the source of my salvation. Okay Rahab we have heard your defence. But did we just hear you mention lying–that you lied to your country folks? What are we to make of that? Remember me for being receptive to the source of my salvation and not for being deceptive to my country folks. At least that is how the book of Hebrews remembers me (Heb. 11:31: By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.). Remember me for being receptive, not deceptive. Deception is never justified. The commandment is clear: Thou shall not lie. Even during the so called “most appropriate of circumstances,” lying is still sinful. As a matter of fact it is oxymoronic to speak of lying and appropriateness on the same breath. Lying is always inappropriate. So remember me for being receptive, not being deceptive.
So the first appropriate step that Rahab took was to remove herself from the path of destruction– and which was a manifestation of her conviction of the reality of destructive judgment– that appropriate step was her reception of the source of her salvation; she was receptive towards the source of her salvation

Step#2: Here is the second appropriate step that Rahab took: She was keen to play her designated part in the salvation contract. There was a salvation contract promulgated as we shall find out shortly. Let me explain a little bit about the ingredients of this salvation contract. First of all its essence. The essence of the salvation contract was life for life. Look at v. 12f (Josh. 2:12: Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the LORD that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith Josh. 2:13: that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” Josh. 2:14: The men said to her, “Our life for yours! (“Uhai wenu ni uhai wetu). Our lives for you lives! That was the essence of the salvation contract.
How about the parties involved in this salvation contract? There were two parties. Rahab on the one end and the two spies on the other. How about the responsibilities of the respective parties? Contracts hold only in as far as the parties fulfill their responsibilities. Both parties, Rahab and the spies, were were held up to certain responsibilities. Rahab’s responsibility was two-fold: (1) she was not to expose the men (Josh. 2:14 … “… don’t tell what we are doing… .”). Did Rahab play her part in this regard? Yes–vv15-16 (Josh. 2:15 ¶ So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. Josh. 2:16 Now she had said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”). She succeeded in not exposing them. Her second responsibility was to tie the scarlet cord in the window and assemble all her relatives at her house (Josh. 2:17 ¶ The men said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us, Josh. 2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. ). Did Rahab play her part? Yes she did–v.21 (Josh. 2:21 … So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window) and v. 23 of ch.6 (Josh. 6:23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.)
True conviction of the reality of destructive judgment manifests itself in your taking the appropriate steps to remove yourself from the path of destruction.

Conclusion
We’ve seen that for Rahab those appropriate steps were (1) she was receptive to the source of her salvation and (2) she played her part in the salvation contract.
Non believer, it is a fact that your lot is detined for destruction. God’s judgment is sure and certain. There is no “maybes” about it. My question to you is whether are fully convinced of the reality of God’s destructive judgment. You had better because denying the progress of a tornado does not necessarily derail the tornado. If you happen to fall on the path of a tornado, it will take you out whether your are convinced of its lethality or not. Now if you say that your are truly convinced of the reality of God’s judgment, you cannot stop at that. True conviction of the reality of God’s destructive judgment manifests itself in your taking the appropriate steps to remove yourself from the path of destruction. Like Rahab you can start off by being receptive. John 1:12 says (John 1:12 Yet to all who received him… he gave the right to become children of God —). Like Rahab you should play your part in the salvation contract. God had already played his part. He loved you so much that he gave his only begotten son. Your part is to believe–(John 3:16 ¶ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.) Friend, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.