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Have I not commanded thee, be strong, and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou
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dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, wither so ever thou goest, Joshua one-night.
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Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me to be strong and courageous.
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These words will serve as my life's reminder, as I move through the life of Joshua.
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As I face my first test, and conquer my new territory, I will do so knowing that the
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God of this universe is behind me, beside me, and in front of me.
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Even though the mountain in front of me may seem as fortified and large as Jericho, I
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know that you have a plan, God, to cause the mountain to crumble before me.
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All I need to do is stand steadfast and reliant upon you, and my victory is inevitable.
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I decree and declare that you are setting up Rahab's in my life to help shield and protect
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Praise you, Lord, for you have gone before me to speak on my behalf, even before I entered
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Therefore, the ground is ripe for the seeds of promise, and I know that my harvest time
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I will let out a hallelujah, because your word never fails.
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My future is secured.
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My family is protected, and my promise has been made sure in your unfailing love.
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Listening to these daily prayers, strengthens your relationship with God.
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Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to today's Bible in a year.
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Rahab and the spies.
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In our last story, we learned about the passing of Moses.
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His past with anger had kept him from leading the new generation into the promised land.
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Before Moses's departure, God appointed Joshua to lead in his place.
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Near the camp on the mountain, Moses overlooked the land flowing with milk and honey and
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breathed his last, knowing that the sheep of Israel were safe under the care of a new shepherd.
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In this story, we learn about God's steadfast reminder to Joshua to be brave and courageous
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and how bravery comes in all shapes and sizes.
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Rahab, a prostitute woman from Jericho, shows the courage of God in a different way, as
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inspired by the book of Joshua.
4:16
We're so glad you joined us on the Bible and a year podcast today.
4:19
The Bible and a year podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come
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to you each week through the support of listeners just like you.
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In our previous episode, we heard how God showed kindness to Moses in his final days on
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Though his anger had kept him out of the promise land, God allowed Moses to see that place
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God was giving his people a view of the fulfilled promise.
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Moses reminded the people of all God's laws and that if they obeyed him, they would be
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Before he died, Moses commissioned Joshua, the man that God himself had chosen to lead
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Israel into their new home.
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Today we'll hear how God reminds Joshua to be brave and trust that he would work through
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Joshua and be with him just as he was with Moses.
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We'll also see how courage leads a prostitute named Rahab to help God's people as they come
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Let's listen now to today's reading.
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The sun had set on the era of Moses.
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This leadership, humility and devotion to God would be heralded for thousands of generations.
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Now a new era had come and it was time for God to lead his people out of the wilderness
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and into the land flowing with milk and honey.
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God came to Joshua as he once did to Moses.
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In the silence God spoke softly, saying, Moses is dead.
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Go over the Jordan River into the land I have given you and my people.
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Joshua smiled and laid it at the words he was hearing.
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Yet a subtle doubt nested in the back of his mind.
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He could not shake a feeling of insecurity.
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Am I truly able to lead these people like Moses did?
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He thought to himself.
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God, knowing Joshua's heart, continued to speak, saying, no one shall be able to stand
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against you, just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
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I will never leave you, be strong and courageous, and you will lead the people into victory.
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Keep my commands close to your heart and do not be afraid for I am with you.
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Three times God repeated these words to Joshua, encouraging him to be strong and courageous.
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Joshua closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
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He rolled his shoulders back and assumed a large posture.
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Then he arose to go lead his people.
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Prepare yourselves, Joshua shouted to his men.
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He marched through camp to all the officers of Israel, saying,
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pass through camp and command people to pack their belongings.
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For in three days we will pass through the Jordan and take the land that is ours.
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So Joshua and all his men helped the families of Israel prepare for their final adventure.
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A galvanizing spirit of unity was among the people, and Joshua had the trust and admiration
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However, Joshua was not naive to the dangers that awaited Israel.
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He remembered the vastness of the Canaanite armies and their strength.
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They were not like God's people.
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These cultures could be brutal and sadistic, taking women and children as prostitutes and
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He must be careful, and God must be with him.
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The first land they had to conquer was Jericho, a city with great walls and fortification.
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So Joshua sent two spies to scope out the land and its inhabitants.
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As Joshua once did with the eleven others, these spies remained hidden within the city
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and measured its level of strength.
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The two spies swept the land for threats and weaknesses.
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They remained anonymous and hidden, finding lodging in the house of a prostitute named
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There they hid in between shifts of going out and spying.
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Soon, word of the two spies came to the king of Jericho, suspicious and angry.
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The king sent men to Rahab's house to find the spies, for he had been told they were
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Knox could be heard from the front of Rahab's house.
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The spies and Rahab looked at one another, panicked.
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The king had found them.
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The spies drew their swords and prepared for a fight.
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But Rahab took both of them and hid them safely.
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Rahab straightened her clothes, put on a sensuous smile and slowly approached the door.
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Guards were at her door.
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Rahab about to greet them as customers was interrupted by one of the guards saying,
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bring out the men who have been staying here, for they are Israelite spies.
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Rahab feigned surprise and concern.
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With her profession, she had become quite good at faking expressions.
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She let the men come inside and said, ah, yes, two men were here, but I had no idea where
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When the gates of the city were about to be closed, they left quickly.
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They must go find them before they kill us.
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Rahab played the part of a woman in distress, needing the big strong men to save her, all
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the while making sure nobody looked up towards the flags of the roof, where she had hid
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The men wasted no time and pursued the men past the gates and towards the Jordan River.
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With great vigor, the men rode in pursuit of the spies that weren't even there.
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Some shut the door and breathed to sigh of relief.
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She climbed up to the roof where she had hidden the spies.
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They would stay there for the night, before leaving early in the morning.
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Rahab crouched down to where they were.
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Her eyes were filled with tears, but there was a look of resolve on her face.
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I know the Lord has given this land to you.
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Rahab said, everybody here is afraid of you.
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We have all heard how God saved you from the Egyptians and the Amorites.
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If your God would part the red seas for you, there is no telling what He might do to
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As soon as we heard you were coming, our hearts melted.
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Please spare me and my family when you come, since I have helped you.
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Please help my mother, father, and siblings.
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The two spies smiled.
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They had no idea how afraid the people were of them.
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It was a good report, and they were excited to bring it back to Joshua.
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They took special note of Rahab and said to her, of course, our lives are in your debt.
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If you tell nobody of us, we will be faithful to you.
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Then, while it was still dark, Rahab lowered the men down by a rope through her window,
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for her home was a part of the city wall.
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The two men thanked Rahab and said, when we come to the land, tie this scarlet cord to
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your window and anyone who passes through will not harm you.
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And so Rahab did it.
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The scarlet rope was tied around her window as a symbol of mercy, just as the scarlet
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blood was painted on the doorsteps of the Israelites years ago.
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God would do more than just spare Rahab and her family.
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Little did she know that the scarlet thread would represent far more than mercy from Israel.
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Later on, she would marry a handsome prince from Judah, and through her lineage, a thousand
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generations across the entire world would be shown the mercy and blessings of God.
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The men departed and ventured into the hills and hid there for three days.
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The soldiers of Jericho scoured the outskirts of the land, barely missing the spies.
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A few close calls later, the men were able to return.
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Hungry, dehydrated, and more happy than they had ever been, the spies ran back to their
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Joshua was helping a family pack their things when he heard shouts from the distance.
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He looked towards the horizon and saw two figures waving in the distance.
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Their silhouettes jumped up and down.
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Joshua squinted and could finally see that it was his spies returning.
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All the people looked as the two men ran back.
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Then Joshua heard the words they had been shouting.
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The Lord has given us this land, and they shall melt away because of us.
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We begin today's story with a new leader, Joshua, feeling the weight of his position.
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Moses had led God's people for many years with strength and humility, and Joshua knew
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that he had some big sandals to fill.
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Not only that, but after forty years of wandering in the desert, God was telling Joshua, it
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was now time to cross the Jordan and actually enter the Promised Land.
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So God spoke to Joshua three times, echoing the words Moses had charged Joshua with,
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be strong, be courageous.
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God reassured Joshua that he would go with him, just as he had been with Moses before
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But this was much, much more than a pep talk.
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These were marching orders.
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Listen to what God says when he repeats the charge the third time in Joshua one nine.
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Have I not commanded you?
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Be strong and courageous.
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Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed.
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For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
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I can't help but think of the words that Jesus gave to his disciples before he ascended
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He was giving them the task of taking the message of the good news to the world.
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And just as God told Joshua that he would be with him wherever he went, Christ promised
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his spirit to go with us, within us always, that he would always be with us.
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Joshua believed God would do exactly what he said he would do.
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And this time, unlike the generation before him, the people did as well.
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They were confident that God would deliver the land into their hands.
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It was time to cross the Jordan.
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Note that Joshua sent spies in advance just as Moses had done 40 years before.
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You see confidence does not mean carelessness.
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The threat of other nations was real and Joshua needed to know what was ahead for the
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So two spies entered the first city that they would have to take the city of Jericho.
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And it's here that we meet Rahab, a prostitute.
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She gave safe lodging to the spies because she had heard the incredible things that God had
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done since they had been rescued out of Egypt.
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God's great name had gone before these men, and she, by faith, opened the door for them.
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The king sent soldiers to capture the spies, and he had heard that they were staying with
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So she lied to protect the men.
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She sent the soldiers in search of the men who she said had gone to the city gates.
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You see, like the midwives in Egypt who lied to Pharaoh's guards to protect Hebrew babies,
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Rahab feared God more than men and put her own life on the line to protect those who
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Rahab then lowered the men through her window to safety so they could return to give Joshua
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God has indeed given us the land.
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Rahab's faith and faithfulness would be rewarded.
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Before leaving, the men told her to tie a scarlet rope to her window so that when they returned
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to take the city, her life would be spared.
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That red cord represents a scarlet thread of redemption, the story of Jesus that runs
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throughout the Bible, and that by his blood we are redeemed.
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Rahab herself would become an ancestor to the Savior who would come and bring the whole
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Dear God, thank you that you brought rescue and grace and peace to all of us through
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Thank you, God, that just as Joshua and the people could trust you to make good on your
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promises, we also know that we can be faithful and true and strong and courageous in Jesus'
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Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a year podcast.
17:10
And before we go, I wanted to let you know that the Bible in a year podcast is an outreach
17:15
of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each week through the support of listeners
17:23
Your support today is so important that we want to thank you for your gift by giving
17:27
you a copy of my book called The Jesus Book.
17:31
This book is a powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible points to Christ
17:36
and how you can better read and understand the Bible and how God's Word transforms our
17:42
So to get your copy of the Jesus book, simply go to jaggram.org slash jesus.
17:48
And thank you for your support.
17:53
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