Rahab and the Spies - The Book of Joshua

Have I not commanded thee, be strong, and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou

dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, wither so ever thou goest, Joshua one-night.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me to be strong and courageous.

These words will serve as my life's reminder, as I move through the life of Joshua.

As I face my first test, and conquer my new territory, I will do so knowing that the

God of this universe is behind me, beside me, and in front of me.

Even though the mountain in front of me may seem as fortified and large as Jericho, I

know that you have a plan, God, to cause the mountain to crumble before me.

All I need to do is stand steadfast and reliant upon you, and my victory is inevitable.

I decree and declare that you are setting up Rahab's in my life to help shield and protect

me from the enemy.

Praise you, Lord, for you have gone before me to speak on my behalf, even before I entered

the room.

Therefore, the ground is ripe for the seeds of promise, and I know that my harvest time

has come.

I will let out a hallelujah, because your word never fails.

My future is secured.

My family is protected, and my promise has been made sure in your unfailing love.

Amen.

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Rahab and the spies.

In our last story, we learned about the passing of Moses.

His past with anger had kept him from leading the new generation into the promised land.

Before Moses's departure, God appointed Joshua to lead in his place.

Near the camp on the mountain, Moses overlooked the land flowing with milk and honey and

breathed his last, knowing that the sheep of Israel were safe under the care of a new shepherd.

In this story, we learn about God's steadfast reminder to Joshua to be brave and courageous

and how bravery comes in all shapes and sizes.

Rahab, a prostitute woman from Jericho, shows the courage of God in a different way, as

inspired by the book of Joshua.

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his living Word, the truth of God's Word, will transform your life.

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In our previous episode, we heard how God showed kindness to Moses in his final days on

earth.

Though his anger had kept him out of the promise land, God allowed Moses to see that place

God was giving his people a view of the fulfilled promise.

Moses reminded the people of all God's laws and that if they obeyed him, they would be

blessed.

Before he died, Moses commissioned Joshua, the man that God himself had chosen to lead

Israel into their new home.

Today we'll hear how God reminds Joshua to be brave and trust that he would work through

Joshua and be with him just as he was with Moses.

We'll also see how courage leads a prostitute named Rahab to help God's people as they come

in to take Jericho.

Let's listen now to today's reading.

The sun had set on the era of Moses.

This leadership, humility and devotion to God would be heralded for thousands of generations.

Now a new era had come and it was time for God to lead his people out of the wilderness

and into the land flowing with milk and honey.

God came to Joshua as he once did to Moses.

In the silence God spoke softly, saying, Moses is dead.

Go arise, Joshua.

Go over the Jordan River into the land I have given you and my people.

Joshua smiled and laid it at the words he was hearing.

Yet a subtle doubt nested in the back of his mind.

He could not shake a feeling of insecurity.

Am I truly able to lead these people like Moses did?

He thought to himself.

God, knowing Joshua's heart, continued to speak, saying, no one shall be able to stand

against you, just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

I will never leave you, be strong and courageous, and you will lead the people into victory.

Keep my commands close to your heart and do not be afraid for I am with you.

Three times God repeated these words to Joshua, encouraging him to be strong and courageous.

Joshua closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He rolled his shoulders back and assumed a large posture.

Then he arose to go lead his people.

Prepare yourselves, Joshua shouted to his men.

He marched through camp to all the officers of Israel, saying,

pass through camp and command people to pack their belongings.

For in three days we will pass through the Jordan and take the land that is ours.

So Joshua and all his men helped the families of Israel prepare for their final adventure.

A galvanizing spirit of unity was among the people, and Joshua had the trust and admiration

of Israel.

However, Joshua was not naive to the dangers that awaited Israel.

He remembered the vastness of the Canaanite armies and their strength.

They were not like God's people.

These cultures could be brutal and sadistic, taking women and children as prostitutes and

slaves.

He must be careful, and God must be with him.

The first land they had to conquer was Jericho, a city with great walls and fortification.

So Joshua sent two spies to scope out the land and its inhabitants.

As Joshua once did with the eleven others, these spies remained hidden within the city

and measured its level of strength.

The two spies swept the land for threats and weaknesses.

They remained anonymous and hidden, finding lodging in the house of a prostitute named

Rahab.

There they hid in between shifts of going out and spying.

Soon, word of the two spies came to the king of Jericho, suspicious and angry.

The king sent men to Rahab's house to find the spies, for he had been told they were

lodging there.

Knox could be heard from the front of Rahab's house.

The spies and Rahab looked at one another, panicked.

The king had found them.

The spies drew their swords and prepared for a fight.

But Rahab took both of them and hid them safely.

Rahab straightened her clothes, put on a sensuous smile and slowly approached the door.

Guards were at her door.

Rahab about to greet them as customers was interrupted by one of the guards saying,

bring out the men who have been staying here, for they are Israelite spies.

Rahab feigned surprise and concern.

With her profession, she had become quite good at faking expressions.

She let the men come inside and said, ah, yes, two men were here, but I had no idea where

they were from.

When the gates of the city were about to be closed, they left quickly.

They must go find them before they kill us.

Rahab played the part of a woman in distress, needing the big strong men to save her, all

the while making sure nobody looked up towards the flags of the roof, where she had hid

the spies.

The men wasted no time and pursued the men past the gates and towards the Jordan River.

With great vigor, the men rode in pursuit of the spies that weren't even there.

Some shut the door and breathed to sigh of relief.

She climbed up to the roof where she had hidden the spies.

They would stay there for the night, before leaving early in the morning.

Rahab crouched down to where they were.

Her eyes were filled with tears, but there was a look of resolve on her face.

I know the Lord has given this land to you.

Rahab said, everybody here is afraid of you.

We have all heard how God saved you from the Egyptians and the Amorites.

If your God would part the red seas for you, there is no telling what He might do to

us.

As soon as we heard you were coming, our hearts melted.

Please spare me and my family when you come, since I have helped you.

Please help my mother, father, and siblings.

The two spies smiled.

They had no idea how afraid the people were of them.

It was a good report, and they were excited to bring it back to Joshua.

They took special note of Rahab and said to her, of course, our lives are in your debt.

If you tell nobody of us, we will be faithful to you.

Then, while it was still dark, Rahab lowered the men down by a rope through her window,

for her home was a part of the city wall.

The two men thanked Rahab and said, when we come to the land, tie this scarlet cord to

your window and anyone who passes through will not harm you.

And so Rahab did it.

The scarlet rope was tied around her window as a symbol of mercy, just as the scarlet

blood was painted on the doorsteps of the Israelites years ago.

God would do more than just spare Rahab and her family.

Little did she know that the scarlet thread would represent far more than mercy from Israel.

Later on, she would marry a handsome prince from Judah, and through her lineage, a thousand

generations across the entire world would be shown the mercy and blessings of God.

The men departed and ventured into the hills and hid there for three days.

The soldiers of Jericho scoured the outskirts of the land, barely missing the spies.

A few close calls later, the men were able to return.

Hungry, dehydrated, and more happy than they had ever been, the spies ran back to their

camp.

Joshua was helping a family pack their things when he heard shouts from the distance.

He looked towards the horizon and saw two figures waving in the distance.

Their silhouettes jumped up and down.

Joshua squinted and could finally see that it was his spies returning.

All the people looked as the two men ran back.

Then Joshua heard the words they had been shouting.

The Lord has given us this land, and they shall melt away because of us.

We begin today's story with a new leader, Joshua, feeling the weight of his position.

Moses had led God's people for many years with strength and humility, and Joshua knew

that he had some big sandals to fill.

Not only that, but after forty years of wandering in the desert, God was telling Joshua, it

was now time to cross the Jordan and actually enter the Promised Land.

So God spoke to Joshua three times, echoing the words Moses had charged Joshua with,

be strong, be courageous.

God reassured Joshua that he would go with him, just as he had been with Moses before

him.

But this was much, much more than a pep talk.

These were marching orders.

Listen to what God says when he repeats the charge the third time in Joshua one nine.

Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

I can't help but think of the words that Jesus gave to his disciples before he ascended

into heaven.

He was giving them the task of taking the message of the good news to the world.

And just as God told Joshua that he would be with him wherever he went, Christ promised

his spirit to go with us, within us always, that he would always be with us.

Joshua believed God would do exactly what he said he would do.

And this time, unlike the generation before him, the people did as well.

They were confident that God would deliver the land into their hands.

It was time to cross the Jordan.

Note that Joshua sent spies in advance just as Moses had done 40 years before.

You see confidence does not mean carelessness.

The threat of other nations was real and Joshua needed to know what was ahead for the

people.

So two spies entered the first city that they would have to take the city of Jericho.

And it's here that we meet Rahab, a prostitute.

She gave safe lodging to the spies because she had heard the incredible things that God had

done since they had been rescued out of Egypt.

God's great name had gone before these men, and she, by faith, opened the door for them.

The king sent soldiers to capture the spies, and he had heard that they were staying with

Rahab.

So she lied to protect the men.

She sent the soldiers in search of the men who she said had gone to the city gates.

You see, like the midwives in Egypt who lied to Pharaoh's guards to protect Hebrew babies,

Rahab feared God more than men and put her own life on the line to protect those who

were sent by God.

Rahab then lowered the men through her window to safety so they could return to give Joshua

the good news.

God has indeed given us the land.

Rahab's faith and faithfulness would be rewarded.

Before leaving, the men told her to tie a scarlet rope to her window so that when they returned

to take the city, her life would be spared.

That red cord represents a scarlet thread of redemption, the story of Jesus that runs

throughout the Bible, and that by his blood we are redeemed.

Rahab herself would become an ancestor to the Savior who would come and bring the whole

world to himself.

Dear God, thank you that you brought rescue and grace and peace to all of us through

your son, Jesus.

Thank you, God, that just as Joshua and the people could trust you to make good on your

promises, we also know that we can be faithful and true and strong and courageous in Jesus'

name.

Amen.

Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a year podcast.

And before we go, I wanted to let you know that the Bible in a year podcast is an outreach

of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each week through the support of listeners

like you.

Your support today is so important that we want to thank you for your gift by giving

you a copy of my book called The Jesus Book.

This book is a powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible points to Christ

and how you can better read and understand the Bible and how God's Word transforms our

lives.

So to get your copy of the Jesus book, simply go to jaggram.org slash jesus.

And thank you for your support.

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