20251112 [새벽묵상] 하나님을 알고 하나님을 선택하라 | Know God and Choose Him (수/Josh 2:8~14)

2:8 또 그들이 눕기 전에 라합이 지붕에 올라가서 그들에게 이르러

2:9 말하되 여호와께서 이 땅을 너희에게 주신 줄을 내가 아노라 우리가 너희를 심히 두려워하고 이 땅 주민들이 다 너희 앞에서 간담이 녹나니

2:10 이는 너희가 애굽에서 나올 때에 여호와께서 너희 앞에서 홍해 물을 마르게 하신 일과 너희가 요단 저쪽에 있는 아모리 사람의 두 왕 시혼과 옥에게 행한 일 곧 그들을 전멸시킨 일을 우리가 들었음이니라

2:11 우리가 듣자 곧 마음이 녹았고 너희로 말미암아 사람이 정신을 잃었나니 너희의 하나님 여호와는 위로는 하늘에서도 아래로는 땅에서도 하나님이시니라

8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

2:12 그러므로 이제 청하노니 내가 너희를 선대하였은즉 너희도 내 아버지의 집을 선대하도록 여호와의 이름으로 내게 맹세하고 내게 증표를 내라

2:13 그리고 나의 부모와 나의 남녀 형제와 그들에게 속한 모든 사람을 살려 주어 우리 목숨을 죽음에서 건져내라

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”

2:14 그 사람들이 그에게 이르되 네가 우리의 이 일을 누설하지 아니하면 우리의 목숨으로 너희를 대신할 것이요 여호와께서 우리에게 이 땅을 주실 때에는 인자하고 진실하게 너를 대우하리라

14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”

                  영화나 소설의 기법 중에 플래쉬백이라고 하는 기법이 있습니다. 이야기가 흘러가는 중에 과거의 특정 장면을 삽입하여 현재 사건의 인과 관계를 설명하거나 등장인물의 성격과 동기를 드러내는 기법입니다. 과거의 추억이나 사건을 회상하는 형태로 표현이 되는데, 이는 긴장감을 고조시키거나 감정을 효과적으로 전달하는데 사용되지요. 오늘 말씀이 딱 그렇습니다. 바로 어제까지만 해도 정탐꾼들이 잠입했다는 사실이 유출되어 이들은 발각되기 일보 직전의 상황에 놓입니다. 그때 전혀 예상치 못했던 창녀 라합이 그들을 숨겨주어 화를 면하게 되지요. 하지만 적인 그녀가 무슨 이유 때문에 그들을 숨겨주었는지는 우리에게 알려주지 않았습니다. 게다가 긴장감은 더 고조됩니다. 라합의 집에 숨기는 숨었는데 추적자들이 성문 밖으로 나가고 성문은 굳게 닫혔습니다. 그들은 이제 독안에 든 쥐꼴이 되었지요. 과연 이들의 운명은 이제 어떻게 될 것인가? 그리고 라합은 대체 왜 그들을 숨겨주었는가? 긴장감 속에 이런 의문 들이 드는 바로 이때 플래쉬백이 등장하는 것이지요. 라합이 이들을 숨겨주던 과거의 시간대로 이동하여 그녀가 왜 그들을 숨겨주었는지 보여줍니다. 그 동기가 무엇이었습니까? 바로 라합은 하나님이 하신 일들을 들었고, 여호와께서 진정한 하나님이심을 알았기 때문이었습니다. 오늘은 이 라합의 고백을 통해 ‘하나님을 알고 하나님을 선택하라’ 라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

In film and literature, there is a narrative technique called a flashback. It's a method where the story interrupts the present flow of events to insert a specific scene from the past. This is often done to explain the cause-and-effect relationship of current events, or to reveal the character and motivation of a person. Flashbacks are powerful tools, used to heighten tension or effectively convey deep emotion.

Today’s passage functions exactly like a flashback.

Just yesterday, the spy mission was compromised; the two Israelite spies were on the brink of being caught. Suddenly, the most unexpected person, Rahab the prostitute, shielded them from harm. But the text did not tell us why she risked her life for them.

The tension only mounts! The spies are hidden, but after the pursuers leave, the city gates are tightly shut. The spies are now trapped, like rats in a box. What will their fate be? And why on earth did Rahab hide them?

The tension is high, and this is where the flashback occurs. The narrative moves back to the moments when Rahab was hiding them, revealing her underlying motivation. What was it?

It was simply because Rahab had heard what God had done, and she knew that the Lord was the one true God.

Today, through Rahab’s confession, I want us to reflect on the theme: Know God and Choose Him.

                  첫번째, 라합은 하나님을 알았습니다. 9절 말씀 함께 읽겠습니다. “말하되 여호와께서 이 땅을 너희에게 주신 줄을 내가 아노라 우리가 너희를 심히 두려워하고 이 땅 주민들이 다 너희 앞에서 간담이 녹나니” 라합이 정탐꾼들에게 했던 첫마디가 바로 이것입니다. “여호와께서 이 땅을 너희에게 주신 줄을 내가 아노라.” 어제의 말씀을 기억하신다면 4-5절 말씀에서 라합이 분명 ‘나는 알지 못하였고’ 라며 몇 번이나 여리고 왕에게 모르쇠로 일관했던 것을 기억할 것입니다.  그런데 오늘 말씀은 “내가 아노라.” 라고 시작하고 있습니다. 이는 강렬한 대조를 통해 라합이 아는 이 사실들을 강조하고 있는 것이지요. 이를 원문으로 보면 “나는 안다. 여호와께서 이 땅을 너희에게 주신 줄을, 우리가 너희를 심히 두려워 하는 것을, 이 땅 주민들이 다 너희 앞에서 간담이 녹는 것을” 이 됩니다. 이렇게 라합이 알고 있는 사실들을 나열함으로서 우리는 하나님께서 1장에서 말씀하셨던 약속들이 사실임을 다시 한 번 확인하게 되는 것입니다. 그렇다면 라합은 어떻게 하나님을 알게 된 것일까요? 바로 다음 구절인 10절은 이렇습니다. “이는…여호와께서…시혼과 옥에게 행한 일 곧 그들을 전멸시킨 일을 우리가 들었음이니라.” 라합이 ‘여호와께서’ 하신 일을 들었다고 합니다. 라합은 이들을 두려워 했던 것이 아닙니다. 하나님을 두려워 했던 것입니다. 특별히 여기서 ‘전멸시킨 일’ 이라는 말은 원문으로는 헤렘, 즉 하나님의 심판의 전쟁을 말하고 있습니다. 여호수아서의 주된 내용인 헤렘이라는 말이 이 이방 여인의 입을 통해서 지금 처음 등장하고 있는 것입니다. 라합은 하나님이 행하신 일을 듣고 아모리왕 시혼과 옥에게 일어났던 헤렘 전쟁이 지금 자신에게 임하고 있다는 것을 알았습니다. 그래서 여호와께서 이 땅을 너희에게 주신 줄을 내가 아노라 라고 고백 할 수 있었던 것입니다.

[Point 1: Rahab Knew God]

First, Rahab knew God. Let’s read verse 9 together:

"She said to the men, 'I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.'"

This is the very first statement Rahab makes to the spies. "I know that the Lord has given you this land."

If you remember yesterday’s sermon, in verses 4-5, Rahab clearly told the King of Jericho's messengers, "I do not know," repeatedly claiming ignorance. Yet today, she begins her confession with a resolute "I know." This intense contrast highlights the truth of what she knows.

In the original language, she is listing known facts:

• I know that the Lord has given you this land.

• I know that a great fear of you has fallen on us.

• I know that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.

By listing these facts, we confirm that the promises God made to Joshua in Chapter 1 were, indeed, becoming reality.

So, how did Rahab come to know God? The very next verse, verse 10, tells us:

"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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed¹."

Rahab says, "We have heard what the Lord did." Rahab wasn’t afraid of the Israelites; she was afraid of God.

The word for "completely destroyed" (or devoted to destruction) is Herem in Hebrew—it refers to the warfare of divine judgment. This pivotal concept of Herem, which defines the main thrust of the Book of Joshua, is now being introduced for the first time through the mouth of this Gentile woman.

Rahab heard what God had done. She recognized that the Herem judgment that fell on Sihon and Og was now coming upon her. That is why she could confess, "I know that the Lord has given you this land."

                  그러나 하나님이 하신 일을 들었던 것은 라합만이 아니었습니다. 11절의 말씀을 함께 읽겠습니다. “우리가 듣자 곧 마음이 녹았고 너희로 말미암아 사람이 정신을 잃었나니 너희의 하나님 여호와는 위로는 하늘에서도 아래로는 땅에서도 하나님이시니라” 우리가 들었다고 합니다. 다른 사람들은 하나님의 역사하심을 들음으로 마음이 녹고 전의를 상실했습니다. 그런데 라합은 두려움에 빠져 허우적대는 것이 아니라 오히려 여호와를 하나님으로 인정하고 선택하였던 것입니다. “너희의 하나님 여호와는 위로는 하늘에서도 아래로는 땅에서도 하나님이시니라” 라고 하는 이 고백은 신명기 4:39에서 모세가 선포했던 것과 같은 신앙 고백입니다. 제가 읽어보겠습니다. “그런즉 너는 오늘 위로 하늘에나 아래로 땅에 오직 여호와는 하나님이시요 다른 신이 없는 줄을 알아 명심하고” 무슨 뜻입니까? 온갖 우상으로 가득한 가나안 땅의 여인이 오직 여호와만이 참 된 하나님이심을 고백하고 있는 것입니다. 그녀는 하나님을 선택했기에 자신의 목숨을 걸고 이들을 숨겨줄 수 있었던 것입니다. 라합이 정탐꾼들에게 그들의 목숨대신에 요구했던 것도 마찬가지입니다. 12절 말씀 함께 읽겠습니다. “그러므로 이제 청하노니 내가 너희를 선대하였은즉 너희도 내 아버지의 집을 선대하도록 여호와로 내게 맹세하고 내게 증표를 내라” 무엇을 요구합니까? “여호와로 내게 맹세하고 내게 증표를 내라” 그녀는 여호와로 내게 맹세하라고 요구합니다. 촛점이 하나님께로 가있는 것이지요. 그녀가 이들을 선대하였은즉 이라고 할 때의 이 선대라는 말도 하나님의 성품인 헤세드를 번역한 것입니다. 너희의 하나님 여호와께서 하신 것처럼 나도 너희에게 헤세드를 보였으니 너희도 나와 내 아버지 집에 그 헤세드를 보여달라는 뜻인 것입니다. 오늘 전체를 통틀어서 그녀는 시종일관 적극적이고 담대하게 신앙을 고백하고 구원을 요청합니다. 오히려 14절에서 정탐꾼들이 더 소극적이고 그저 라합의 제안을 받아들이기만 하는 수동적인 모습을 보게 되지요. 사실 이들은 가나안의 모든 것을 진멸해야하는 헤렘의 명령을 받았는데 시작부터 이를 위반하는 모습을 보여줍니다. 그러나 우리는 하나님께서 이 모든 상황을 통해서 당신의 선을 이루시는 것을 또한 보게 되지요. 아직 용기가 필요하고 주저하고 있는 이스라엘 백성들에게는 당신께서 이미 가나안을 준비하셨음을 다시 한번 확인시키십니다. 또 비록 그 진노의 대상일지라도 하나님을 알고 하나님을 선택한 자에게는 당신의 백성으로 삼으시는 것 또한 보여주시는 것이지요.

[Point 2: Rahab Chose God]

However, Rahab was not the only one who heard what God had done. Let’s read verse 11:

"When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

We heard, she says. The other residents of Jericho also heard of God’s works; their hearts melted, and their courage failed. They were paralyzed by fear.

But Rahab did not simply wallow in fear; instead, she acknowledged and chose the Lord as God. Her confession, "The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below," is the same powerful confession of faith that Moses declared in Deuteronomy 4:39: "Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other."

This is the incredible truth: A woman from a Canaanite city, filled with idols, is confessing that the Lord alone is the true God. Because she chose God, she was willing to risk her life to hide the spies.

The request she makes of the spies is equally telling. Let’s read verse 12:

"Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign."

What does she ask for? "Swear to me by the Lord" and give her a sign. Her focus is on God.

When she says, "I have shown kindness to you," the word translated as "kindness" is Hesed—the Hebrew word for God's covenant love and steadfast grace. Rahab is essentially saying: "Just as your God, the Lord, has shown Hesed, I have shown Hesed to you. Now, I ask you to show that same Hesed to me and my father’s family."

Throughout this entire passage, Rahab is consistently active and bold in her faith and her plea for salvation. We even see the spies appearing more hesitant and passive in verse 14, merely accepting Rahab’s proposition.

In fact, these spies were under the command of Herem—to destroy everything in Canaan—yet they begin by violating that command. But we see that God uses this very situation to accomplish His ultimate good.

He confirms to the Israelites, who still need courage, that He has already prepared Canaan for them. And He demonstrates that even though one might be an object of His wrath, anyone who knows God and chooses God will be welcomed and included as one of His people.

                  말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘의 말씀은 하나님이 행하신 일을 들어 알고 그 하나님을 선택한 라합의 고백을 다루고 있습니다. 우리도 하나님이 행하신 일들을 기억하고 우리의 구원이 하나님께 있음을 고백하며 하나님 만을 선택해야 합니다. 우리의 상황과 형편이 아닌 오직 하나님을 의지하여 담대히 구원을 쟁취하시는 여러분 되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.

[Conclusion]

Today’s passage deals with the confession of Rahab, who heard what God had done and chose to put her faith in Him.

We, too, must remember the great works God has done, confess that our salvation is in Him alone, and resolutely choose God above all else.

May you rely on God alone, not on your circumstances or capabilities, and boldly claim the salvation that is yours in Jesus Christ. Amen.