THE JOURNEY TO THE PROMISE LAND CONTINUES
Joshua 2:1-24
FOLLOW GOD’S DIRECTIONS
V:1. Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
God's plan of redemption, continues from generation to generation. Moses died and Joshua was given the charge of taking the Israelites into the promised land. He started by sending two spies into the promised land as Moses did 40 years earlier. This time Joshua only sent two spies and they were sent out secretly. They were men he trusted. He did not need a majority opinion.
The emphasis was on the Jericho, the entryway into the Promised Land.
Joshua knew what was in the land, therefore he focused on the state of mind of the people in the Land. Jericho was a walled city to keep out the enemy
God has a way into your life and your circumstances.
When God, sends us out, he prepares a place and people for us to stay safe. Rehab was the chosen vessel in the midst of the enemy. In this case, God chose a prostitute as His vessel. She was a businesswoman and an innkeeper along with her immoral profession. She had been prepared for redemption.
God does not tell us how the spies got into Jericho or how they met Rehab. From the outside, it would appear that Rahab was not the likely person God would use to help His people. God didn’t need Rahab, but His ways are not our ways. The name Rahab means broad, wide, or extended.
Since she was an Innkeeper, a place of entertainment, she would know the sentiments
of the people. We don’t know Rahab’s history, but we do know her purpose. According to the genealogy in Matthew, King David was a descendant of Rahab’s marriage to Nahson. Rahab was in the generation of Jesus.
YOUR PRESENCE IS KNOWN
Joshua 2:2-10
V2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land."
The spies were a secret to the people of Israel, but not the enemy. You cannot always hide your identity. You don't always fit into the crowd. A child of God should always stand out. Stand out in his conversation with the Lord. He stands out in his godly character. Stand out in his walk. Christians ought not to look like the crowd.
Your reputation proceeds you. The Word about your action gets around. The King of Jericho had heard about the successful conquest of the Israelites after leaving Egypt. He knew they were a threat to every nation they came against.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES GOD
GIVES
V4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.
Rahab was a smart and determined businesswoman. She did what it took to survive. Not only was she a prostitute, the owner of an Inn for entertainment, but she also was in the business of making linen cloth from flax which was laid on her rooftop.
Before making a deal with the Israelite spies she hid the men under flax. Her home was in the wall of the fortress of Jericho. She showed kindness to the spies, positioning herself for the safety of her and all her family.
She knew that King Jericho was no match for the God of Israel. She knew the history of the successful conquest of the Israelites. She knew all the people were terrified of Israel. She seized the opportunity to save her and all her family members.
Quick thinking Rahab lied to the King’s men about the location of the spies. She agreed that the spies had come to her house, but left. She sent the king’s men on a wild goose chase looking for the spies outside the city all the while knowing their location in her home. Rahab risked her life by lying to the king’s men It requires courage to take risks to serve the Lord
MAKING A DEAL FOR SALVATION
Joshua 2:15-3:1
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 Now she had said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way."
17 The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
Rahab made a deal with the spies for the salvation of her and all her family; " My family lives for your life." If I save you, promise to save my family. Rahab had a strategic plan for success. She knew the direction the King's men would go looking for the spies. She dropped the spies down the wall of Jericho using the linen cloth she had made from flax. She sent the two spies to a location in the mountain until the king's men returned to the city securing their safety.
WHEN GOD INVOLVED, PLANS SUCCEED
V:21 "Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river, and came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, "The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."
As a sign of the location of Rahab's family on the city wall, a red cloth of linen was placed in the window on the wall. Not only was Rehab in the business of making linen cloth, but she was in the business of dying the cloth. Rahab made quality cloth. Her product was strong enough for the spies to hold on to climbing down the wall.
It was not by coincidence that the spies picked Rehab’s place of business. God directed the spies to Rahab so she would be part of the generation of Jesus.
Rahab trusted the word of the spies to keep their end of the agreement to save the
the lives of her family.
To serve the Lord you have to trust His message.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM RAHAB?
1. You can’t judge a book by its cover. On the cover of the book was the
picture of a prostitute.
Inside the pages of her life was a strong, smart, intelligent, resourceful woman.
She did whatever it took to survive in Jericho.
She was a successful businesswoman. She ran an Inn, a place of entertainment.
She made linen cloth from the flax she spread on her roof. She may have dyed the
Cloth to any color her customers wanted. One of the colors was red.
2. She played the hand she had to her success.
3. She lived in the moment making use of the talents and resources God gave her.
4. She seized the opportunities God gave her to improve her life.
5. Use what you have to promote God, man, and family.
WHAT WAS HER PURPOSE?
Why did God use a prostitute in taking off the Promised Land?
It was more than helping the spies of Israel. It was more than aiding in
the conquest of the Promised Land.
Rahab was chosen by God for His divine purpose.
Her purpose is found in the promised redemption of mankind.
Rahab is in the 42 generations of Jesus (Matthew 1).
She was one of the grandmas of King David and King Jesus.
YOU CAN’T CHANGE THE FAMILY YOU ARE BORN
IN, BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THE FAMILY YOU
LIVE IN. JESUS IS THE NEW FAMILY
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