Rahab and Achan

“Rahab, when confronted with the threat of חרם, confessed the power of YHWH and that he was ‘with Israel’, and thus that she would need ‘rescuing’ from the חרם. Rahab demonstrated through her ‘speeches’ an awareness of who YHWH was in a ‘confession’ that matched that of Moses (Deut 4:39) and Solomon (1 Kgs 8:23). Moreover, she demonstrated in her actions of חסד that she is characterized by the very qualities that are at the heart of the covenant between YHWH and Israel (2:10-12), despite being a Canaanite prostitute. Achan is Rahab’s foil. He is the model ethnic Israelite, but when confronted with חרם he coveted (חמד) it, and when asked to give glory to YHWH, whilst ‘confessing his sin’, he failed to glorify YHWH (7:19-21). Despite appearances, in Rahab’s case the confrontation with חרם ‘draws out’ her nature as ‘Israel’, whilst in Achan’s case the confrontation with חרם ‘draws out’ his nature as ‘non-Israel’.”—Reading Joshua as Christian Scripture, page 198

<idle musing>
The reality is inward, in the heart and attitude, but we often look on the outward and judge by that. We look at a person's jobs, education, family, etc., thinking that is the "real" person, but frequently it isn't. How does the person respond to God? Only that reveals the true nature of a person.
</idle musing>