How Can That Be?

Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove.  He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.”  So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night. [Joshua 2.1]

It is a very familiar story - the spies' deal with Rahab.  But why did the spies ever arrive at the door of a prostitute?  Did God lead the spies to the prostitute?

I would think, under the circumstances, that the two spies would stay far away from anything deemed "evil."  But therein lies an important question, how was prostitution actually seen?

Regardless, God chose to carry out His holy plan incorporating the direct help of a woman whose occupation was providing sex in exchange for money/goods.  Is this ironic considering the meticulous nature of "staying holy" found in the rules of cleanliness and uncleanliness given to the Israelites?

Most interesting is the fact that the story goes on without even a hitch in regards to the visit to the prostitute.  The advancement of the 'holy people of God' into their most holy Promised Land is forever portrayed as accomplished at the hands, and with the help, of a whore.

Perhaps it is all just circumstantial and means absolutely nothing...

Father, I realize that our religion today could just as easily be wrong in many areas as it is right.  Today's "good Christians" would never take lodging at a prostitute's house - let alone patronize her trade.  And yet, the story of Your chosen people is presented in association with a prostitute without even a hint to the famous woman that she should change her ways.  How can that be?