Joshua 2:1-24 Introduction A. As Joshua prepared to lead the people of God into their promised land, part of that preparation involved gathering information on the city of Jericho. B. Jericho was a city that covered about 8 acres. C. It had and inner and outer wall whose dimensions were 18 ft. thick and 30 ft. high. D. Upon this wall houses had been built, and Rahab the prostiture lived in one of them. E. Joshua, who had been one of the spies sent by Moses, now sends two spies to view the land secretly. F. Secretly because he knew what had happened at Kadesh-Barnea when the 10 spies returned with an negative report.
2 G. He didn t want a repeat of the events that led to them wandering in the wilderness for 40 years! H. The Spies Sent Forth. 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. (Joshua 2:1, NIV) A. To the city of Jericho. 1. The city of Jericho was a stronghold of the enemy; surrounded by high walls, it was well fortified and very secure. 2. This city... Jericho... by name means fragrance and is a picture of the world. 3. The city was grossly immoral so that it is not strange that the spies came to the house of the harlot. 4. Some would like to change her character, and call her an innkeeper, but it cannot be done.
3 5. The Bible records her character by identifying her as a prostitute in nearly every reference to her. 6. Although she may have been an innkeeper, she was without question a prostitute! (This is important and we will see the significance in just a moment) B. To the House of Rahab 1. Rahab is a picture of a sinner, lost and bound in immorality. 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6, NIV) 2. Rahab, the harlot, is also a beautiful picture of the power of the Grace of God! 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Heb 11:31, NIV) 3. The spies came to Rahab s house; not by accident, but in the providential will of God.
4 4. God s will is done in our lives when we are totally yielded and under His direction. 5. Every detail, no matter how small, is important; for it is the little things that make up a life. 6. The spies could come to her house without bringing a lot of notice or suspicion. 7. And the location of Rahab s house upon the wall made perfect sense to spy out the city. II. Rahab s Faith and Works. A. Rahab s condition. 1. She belonged to a doomed race, the race against which the curse had been pronounced. 2. The city being grossly immoral would have been filled with wickedness. 3. Rahab s condition is a picture of all lost mankind B. God s Mercy.
5 1. In His infinite mercy He sent His messengers to this woman s house. 2. They brought a message of impending judgment, and also of mercy and deliverance. 3. She heard the 40 year old report and she believed. 4. She put faith in Jehovah, the God of the heaven above and earth beneath. 5. She gave testimony of that faith. C. Rahab s works. 1. Rahab did something that proved her new faith. 2. Before she had been an idolater, now she became a true believer. 3. We know that because of what she did. 4. She proved her faith, by her works note that I said she proved her faith! 5. We are not talking about salvation salvation is by grace through faith.
6 6. But Rahab proved her faith by her actions. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (James 2:25, NIV) 7. She had heard of how great the God of the Israelites was; she pleads for mercy for herself and her family. III. The Spies Escape and Assurance. 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. (Joshua 2:15-16, NIV) A. Hidden by Faith 1. Rahab had hidden the spies from the king s men and had misinformed them to allow the spies the opportunity to escape. 2. Wherever there is genuine faith in God... it will always be accompanied by good works.
7 3. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells that we are saved by faith alone, but such faith will be a working faith, notice 2:10... 10 we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph 2:10) 4. Our testimony of faith will be seen by our acts and works for God s glory. B. Assured by God s messengers. 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. (Joshua 2:17-20, NIV) 1. The scarlet thread would identify her and her house and provide protection from the coming judgment. 2. It would remind all of the covenant made.
8 3. This reminds me of the blood of the lamb on the doorposts at Passover. 4. It is symbolic of the blood of Christ, once applied will identify and protect us from coming judgment. 5. The two men gave assurance to Rahab that she and all her family would be spared when Israel came against Jericho. C. The Return of the Spies. 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. (Joshua 2:22-24, NIV) 1. They returned knowing God was at work. 2. They returned In faith... God was going to do it all for His glory. 3. They were safe and they were encouraged by this experience.
9 4. They were confident that God would give them all the land (v. 24 ). 5. We need that kind of faith; the kind that trusts God for great things. God is only pleased when we walk by faith. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Heb 11:6, NIV) Conclusion What obstacles are in our way? We enter into victory by an active and vibrant faith. Each of us are trophies of God s amazing grace! Rahab would become David s great grandmother. Who could have imagined such a thing? Only by God s grace!