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How come Rahab’s lies to the men of the city (Joshua 2) had been accepted while lying is a sin?

Rahab's lies had been prompted by her strong belief in God’s declared Word. Resistance to God’s will would have been both vain and wicked (Josh 2:9-11). She had manifested a sound practical faith which was praised accordingly (Heb 11:31; James 2:25). Being a Canaanite she was not better taught about the evil of lying. She is certainly guilty of telling lies but may be excused by the pressure of circumstances and by her own past history. However, she certainly shouldn’t be taken as a precedent.