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Joshua 2:1-24. The Lord Goes On Before His People To Fulfill His Promises. Kevin E. Jesmer 3-13-17

The Lord Goes On Before His People To Fulfill His Promises

Joshua 2:1-24                                                              Kevin E. Jesmer                                         3-13-17

Key verse 2:9

“ and said to them, ‘I know that the Lord has given you this land 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.’”

Usually, when we study this passage, we like to focus on the faith of Rahab and how she overcome a very difficult situation by faith, through committing to God, his cause and to God’s people. This is very important and will be touched upon, but this passage is more about the Lord and how he grants his people spiritual victory as he goes on ahead of them, preparing the way.

God was with the Israelite spies. He prepared a woman Rahab, who would rescue the exploratory team from agents, sent by the king of Jericho, to apprehend them. God went ahead of the spies, planting fear in the hearts of the people, even before the Israelites appeared in the region. God encouraged the spies through Rahab’s words. We see how God accepted a Gentile woman, as one of his own. It was all because of faith. God recognizes faith. God is a God who protects, prepares a way and who accepts anyone who places that faith in him. It reminds us of Jesus who goes on ahead of us, through his death and resurrection, and brings us into the everlasting Kingdom of God. Let’s find about our God who goes on before his people and opens the way for them. Amem!

Part 1: God Protects His Servants (1-21)

God’s people are preparing to make their thrust into the Promised Land. It was time for them to begin conquering the land for it was God’s right time. To initiate the advancement into the land, Joshua sent two spies to spy out the land. Look at verse 1, “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” They were to pay close attention to Jericho, for Jericho was a fortress-like city, standing guard over the land of Canaan. It was a strategic city to be conquered, for If the walls of Jericho were able to be breached, then the whole nation of Israel would be encouraged and all the pagan nations would be discouraged. People would know that the land of Canaan would be eventually be conquered by God and his people.

The two spies faced a daunting mission, full of dangers, but they accepted it and set out to spy out the land. They had faith in God. God let the two spies to the right place. Look at verse 1 again. “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.”  Faith in God displaces all fear and gives his servants the impetus needed to move forward in their mission.

God sent the men to the house of a prostitute, or whom other scholars say, was an inn keeper. Maybe she was both. Why wouldn’t God send the spires to the daughter of a godly family who already believed in the God of the Israelites? Why was this inn keeper/prostitute considered by God to be the right person? God chose her. It is that simple. It was his grace to her and her family.

 

Rehab did not hesitate. Her spirit was responding to the prompting of God’s spirit.

The king of Jericho was very worried and sent a message to Rahab. Look at verses 2-3, “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.” It was a tense situation. The king of her city was seeking out the spies. They knew that they had come to her inn. They also knew their purpose, to conquer the city. If Rahab decided to lie to the king’s men, it would mean her life and the lives of her family members. What would she do?

God helped her to do what was right. Look verses 4-7, “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, they 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.”  God’s spirit moved in her heart. She acted quickly. She decided to protect the spies, by sending the messengers to go off searching in the wrong direction. In doing so she was making a very conscious effort to side with God’s people Israel, supporting God’s cause.

Her plan to save the spies succeeded. The king’s men went in pursuit of what they thought was the spies. However, the spies were safe a sound, on the roof, hidden under stocks of flax. God is good. He protects his servants. He moves people to act quickly with wisdom even in the most adverse of circumstances. We can trust in the Lord as we serve Christ.

Rahab was a prepared woman, prepared by God to serve a wonderful purpose. Verses 9-14 read, “9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land 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. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”

Whatever her background was, God had prepared her heart. He shared with her many spiritual secrets concerning his plan for his people Israel…how he was with them and protecting them. She believed these words. She was afraid of what would happen to her and her family and she decided that she must side with the God of the Israelites. She also knew that siding with the God of Israel was the truthful and right thing to do. God communicates all of these things to her by his Spirit. She knew and understood. She was a prepare woman, prepare by God to participate in the redemptive work of the Lord. God has prepared people everywhere. They are raised up to encourage and help and protect servants of God.

Rahab was eager to share her faith with the spies. When the coast was clear, Rahab went up to the roof where the Israelites spires were hidden. Before them, she confessed her faith in God. Look at verses 8-11 again, “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 you this land 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. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. “ From her confession, we can learn many important things about the Lord.

First, the Lord has given the land to the Israelites. (V. 9a) “and said to them, ‘I know that the Lord has given you this land…’” God was leading the people. He was fulfilling the promises to them and through them. Victory was assured. God was going to make it so. There was nothing to fear, God was going help them to take root into the Promises Land.

     Second, God goes on ahead of his people to prepare for them the way. Verse 9b. “…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.”    God had caused a great fear to fall upon the hearts of the people of the land. God was already beginning to fight the battle for his people. It was psychological warfare. Our God can work in the hearts of unbelievers to serve his purpose.

Third, the knowledge of God’s victories spread throughout the land. Look at verses 10-11, “We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” The people heard of the crossing of the Red Sea and of the many military victories. The knowledge of God’s wonderful exploits easily permeates throughout any land, even now across our own country.

Rahab sought the mercy of God. Rahab, knowing that God was going to bring judgement upon Jericho, asked for mercy. Read verses 12-13, “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”   The spies agreed to spare her in her family, under one condition, that she does not tell anyone about their presence and plan. (14) Rehab agreed and helped them down the wall and directed them to hide for three days in the hills. (15)

The men entered into a covenant agreement with Rahab. If she kept their mission a secret and tied a scarlet cord in the window and gathered her family onto her home with her, then they will be spared, otherwise they would perish with the other people of Jericho. (17-20). Rehab committed herself to the covenant agreement.  She said in verse 21, “Agreed,” she replied. ‘Let it be as you say.’”

How hard is must have been for Rahab to agree with this? She had to betray her own people. She committed herself to dwell among God’s people, a people she did not know, a people of strange customs, strange language, a people who would decimate her own city. It was the city where generations of her family members lived and died. They were about to kill her neighbors and extended family members. She was about to perform, what the people pf Jericho would say, an extreme act of treason. But it was going to happen. God was bringing judgement on the people of Jericho and at the same time fulfilling his promises to Abraham. How hard it would be to protect, side with and ultimately join the people of God? Her commitment to God and his people was ultimately a miracle and the work of the Lord.

There are so many forces keeping us from committing to Christ and his cause and to the church. But we need to be fully committed to Jesus. As the popular hymn says, “Who is on the Lord’s side who will serve the King?” It really requires faith when a person begins to live for Christ and sides with Jesus and his church. Their relationships with those around them change. They will find themselves at odds with the world. But for those who know Jesus and his grace, that is a small price to pay to be counted worthy of being a member of the people of God. We can never decide on our own to side with Jesus and his people in this way. It is an act of God, born of his own grace. Is God moving your heart to stand with both feet on the Lord’s side?

Part 2: It Was About What God Had Done (22-24)

The spies glorified God in their report to Joshua and the Israelite leaders. Look at verses 22-24. “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.”  They reported everything that happened. In other words, they reported what God had done. It was not about what they had done but what the Lord had done. They truly sought to glorify God. They said to Joshua in verse 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.”

They had confidence that the Lord would lead them into victory. Can you imagine their hearts? They Lord has given them a sense of victory. He had gone on ahead of them. His presence was very real. That was their testimony. There was excitement. There was expectation. There was no fear. God was blessing the hearts of the people.

Conclusion: This is such an exciting story! There are so many twists and turns. It keeps us on the edge of our seats. But the main player is the Lord. As he had promised he was bringing his people into the Promised Land. He was going to do it. It was his plan. It was not dependent on human strength. It is all about God and his grace and power.

We too can overcome fear and walk in faith and victory as we live by faith in the Lord. He is with us, He shares his victory with us. He prepares the way before us. He prepares people to assist in the mission. The greatest victory for us is our victory over sin, and death. Jesus goes on ahead and leads all who place their faith him. He prepares the way for Gospel mission and he prepares the way to eternal life in the Kingdom of God with him forever.

 

Joshua 2 Bible Text NIV

2 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.

2 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.”

4 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, they 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 you this land 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. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”

14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”

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 She 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 Now the men had 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 any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”

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.”




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