Latest revision as of 00:26, 28 May 2022

Theological Proposition/Focus: God loves every individual and is able to redeem them regardless of occupation or ancestry.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: No matter the circumstances we must choose faith and act upon that choice because God's rewards are enormous.

Introduction:

Image: Misunderstanding, I am not that good with numbers

When people learn that I am a mathematician they often assume that I am really good with numbers. In fact, this is not the case. My work was in theoretical mathematics. I understand how all the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline fit together. Emily balances our checkbook.

Misunderstandings are something that always fascinates me. I enjoy seeing what people commonly understand and then seeing how we can have a better understanding.

Preview: In Joshua 2:1-13 we are going to see four traps, misunderstandings, that we often fall into.

Need: We need to make sure that we understand that God can and does work through anyone.

Text: Joshua 2:1-13

Setting the Stage:

After having assured the people that it was God who was running the show, it was time to begin executing God's plan.

After God affirmed Joshua as the next leader of Israel, it was time for the work to begin.

The first city that Israel would encounter upon crossing the Jordan river into the land was the city of Jericho.

The city of Jericho sat

14 miles West of the Jordan river

We talk about the city of Jericho but we need to understand this was actually a military outpost.

This was much more of a fort rather than a city.

More details on the city later in the series

Body

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. 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.” ^[1]

Misnomer: Faith is not ignorance (1-3).

Participation with God requires we know some details

In verse one we see that Joshua secretly sent two spies into the land.

Remember, God had just called on Joshua to be strong and courageous.

I don't think that sending the spies shows a lack of courage but rather shows an acknowledgment of God's timing. Joshua is saying something like "Okay, I am willing to be strong and courageous, let's get this started."

At first glance, you might think, oh no, here we go again.

Once again Israel is going to doubt God's power and refuse to enter the land. However, this does not seem to be the case. The use of spies was not a lack of faith but rather an effort to discover how best to proceed. Joshua is using common sense here. Nothing in the text suggests that Joshua doubts God. Rather it seems that Joshua is looking to plan his next steps carefully.

In fact, there is a hint that Joshua was being very careful here. The text states that Joshua

sent these spies secretly.

That a spy is acting covertly is obvious so including the word secret seems superfluous. Perhaps the point is that even the fellow Israelites did not know of this mission. These spies took on a dangerous and thankless job. Even their countrymen would not know of the sacrifice they were making. Sometimes we must be spiritually courageous and no one will know of our courage.

Participation with God may appear dangerous.

In verse 2 we see that the spies encountered some very real danger

excursis into the moral weeds of Rahab's prostitution

Now there is an elephant in the room. What were God's people doing in the house of a prostitute?

First, things were different in the ancient world and my understanding is that our equivalent of a

hotel was often some sort of place of prostitution.

This helps us understand why in the New Testament hospitality is valued so highly. If you lived in a world where hotels were places of prostitution then when the Apostle Paul comes to visit your city you don't want to put him up in the hotel, that is shameful, instead, you find someone in the church to host him.

Second, if you want to find a place where your identity and secret can remain safe,

you might find such a place in a prostitute's house.

Nothing in the texts indicates the spies participated in immoral behavior

Instead, I want you to notice that the text actually suggests that

these men may have treated Rahab differently than she had ever experienced before.

At least something led Rahab to believe this was not business as usual because she did not give them up.

Rahab, in defiance of her king actually hid the spies and lied to the king.

Remember, this text is reporting facts of the narrative not endorsing a particular behavior.

The text is not making a moral claim about Rahab. We know that both prostitution and lying are wrong and perversions of God's will. The spies chose to utilize a prostitute's house, in so doing they put themselves at great risk. Rahab chose to lie, lying is a sin but remember Rahab is a heathen who does not know God.

You should not model your post-christ life after the life of a pre-conversion woman!

We celebrate Rahab's eventual conversion but don't fall into the trap of celebrating her sin.

So, what exactly can we learn from Rahab and the spies? We need to

MTR: Look for God's confirmations.

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. ^[2]

Misconception: God needs me to be righteous to use me (4-7).

We have this misconception that God only uses people who get their life cleaned up. This is a bad move on our part. You see God

God used a prostitute.

The word that is translated as a prostitute can on occasion mean one who keeps an inn and so some have argued that Rahab was simply keeping an inn. However, in the NT we see that Rahab was a prostitute.

God used a liar.

In verse 4 Rahab unabashedly lies to the King. Rahab is nothing short of a liar.

God can use you.

MTR: Recognize that God can use you right now.

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 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. ^[3]

Fallacy: Outsiders never recognize the work of God (8-11).

Those in Jericho recognized God was working.

Here is some irony.

Many of the Israelites, during the period of wandering, showed very little faith in God's ability to bring them into the land.

The heathen citizens of Jericho, show full confidence in God.

Notice a few key phrases, fear had fallen on the people, they are melting in fear, they have heard of the works of God, their courage has failed. These are strong statements. I think that we have a tendency to take God for granted because we know God. Israel certainly was guilty of taking God for granted.

Have you ever had this experience where someone who you do not believe is a Christian says something that convicts you? I certainly have and it is a humbling experience. You see we serve a powerful God who not only can work through people who know him but

Rahab recognized God.

Not only does God orchestrate through those who have no idea who he is. God also works through those who he is in the process of calling. I want you to focus on verse 11. Notice how Rahab describes God. Rahab sees that the

LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. (verse 11)

This is a strong statement for someone living in Canaan to make. Remember Rahab had never tasted manna, seen the glory cloud, or read from the books of the Law. Rahab was coming to realize just who God was. In fact, this powerful statement is reminiscant of

Exodus 20:4, Deuteronomy 4:39 (read this one), and Deuteronomy 5:8

I think this former polytheist is boldly proclaiming herself to be a follower of the God of the Hebrews.

MTR: Realize that those around you are watching.

The way you respond can speak volumes about God. Consider this, Rahab came to know God, and came to eventually be in the line of Christ.

How might the story have been different if the spies had acted poorly?

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.” ^[4]

Error: Some people are just hopeless (12-13).

Rahab could have been written off.

Deuteronomy 7:1-6

calls for the complete destruction of all the people. However, Rahab completely changed her allegiance.

Rahab asked for loyal love (kindness).

Rahab asks that they swear to show her

חסד the loyal love or covenant love

MTR: Never give up on one whom God might redeem.

Conclusion:

Rahab's faith is what saved her.

Read Hebrews 11:31

The passage tells us that it was faith that saved Rahab.

This sermon is titled the power of realization. What we need to realize is that God is looking for faith.

In the two NT passaged talking about Rahab she is mentioned as a prostitute

1. ↑ The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jos 2:1–3.
2. ↑ The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jos 2:4–7.
3. ↑ The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jos 2:8–11.
4. ↑ The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jos 2:8–13.