Joshua 2: The Power of Realization

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: I despise Valentine's day

I despise Valentine's day. No seriously. I see so many terrible husbands, boyfriends, etc. who fail to love their significant other 364 days a year and somehow magically doing something nice one day a year solves everything... I don't buy it. Emily and I have been married for almost 18 years now and every year I tell her something like "I will show you love, honor you, and treat you well 365 days a year. You can ask me for anything and I will do everything to make it happen. We don't need one artificial day for me to prove my devotion to you." Then when Valentine's day rolls around, I go out, buy her a card, and get her something special. Why? Because while she doesn't need to Valentine's day to know I love her, it does make her feel good and provide just that little bit of assurance.

Here in Joshua 2, we are going to see a place where God gave Israel just a little reminder that he was with them.

They should have known he was with them, but the reminder couldn't have hurt.

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. Step one is going to be preparing.

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

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.

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.” 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.

God works through those who are willing to be courageous (1-7).

Both the spies and Rahab showed great courage. The spies risked their lives, Rahab risked both life and livelihood.

excursis into the moral weeds of Rahab's prostitution and lies.

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.

At this point, I think we need to take just a quick

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.

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: Evaluate your spiritual courage, aim to grow.

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. 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.”

God orchestrates every detail whether behind the scenes or in the open (8-13).

God orchestrates through those who have no idea who He is.

Here is some irony.

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

God orchestrates through those He is in the process of calling.

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.

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.

Ultimately we see Rahab requesting the salvation of her family. In the following section of verses, we are going to see the answer to this request but in the meantime, I want you to see that.

God orchestrates through those who He has called.

Overall, I hope you are seeing that God orchestrates the details. Sometimes these details are visible sometimes they are invisible. So what does this mean for us?

MTR: Ask God for the confidence to trust him in the details

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.

God honors those who in faith make bold requests (14-21).

God honored Rahab by guaranteeing her safety.

The spies agree. The NIV translates kindly and faithfully from the Hebrew

The word חסד appears 245 times

and is used to refer to God's loyal, covenant love. Rahab made a bold request, after all, recall that Israel was supposed to drive out all the inhabitants of the land and God honors the request and actually brings her into the covenant relationship.

The spies make a deal that ensures both their safety and Rahab's safety.

God honored the spies by preserving their life.

We have spent a lot of time talking about Rahab and her safety, but I also want you to notice that the spies were safe. We would be amiss not to note that.

So what can we learn from this example?

MTR: Make bold, informed requests.

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.”

God allows his people to examine his plan (22-24)

God allowed Joshua to investigate the land.

Only a half mile west of Jericho there are 1500-foot limestone cliffs. These cliffs are full of caves and the spies were able to hide. Joshua had asked the spies to go and investigate and their life had been preserved.

God took Joshua's plan and used it not only to build faith in Israel but also to save Rahab.

God allowed the spies to understand the situation.

Recall that 38 years earlier 10 spies, upon seeing the might of Canaan led the people's hearts to melt. Now, these two spies boldly declare that the people of Canaan's hearts are melting in fear.

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

This is not to demean Rahab but rather to call attention to God's saving work. It is faith that saves, not works.