Joshua 2 Courage
From 2Timothy2.org
Contents
Objectives
- Students will face challenges with confidence in God's care for them.
- Students will courageously face the challenges that lie before them.
Opening
Think back to a time where you were scared. What did you do? Did your actions actually contribute to your safety, or did they just make you feel better? What actions would actually make you safer? Joshua 2 Courage Handout
Main Body
The Canaanites (Joshua 2:1-11)
- What did Joshua do before moving the entire nation over the Jordan?
- He sent two spies into the land.
- Do you think it would have been better for Joshua to just enter the land, after all hadn't Moses done the same thing and it resulted in 40 years of wandering?
- Joshua seems to have sent the spies specifically to Jericho. He also only set two spies. This really seems to be about information gathering in preparation for entering and not about checking out the promises of God.
There is debate about Rahab and some have tried to temper the story by simply calling her an inn keeper. However, Heb. 11:31 and James 2:25 make it clear that Rahab was immoral. In this text God sees it fit to provide his grace to anyone.
- What events take place in verses 2-4?
- Was Rahab right to lie?
- I think that at times we focus so much on behaviors that we forget the point. We all are sinners and guilty of death. The Bible holds no punches regarding Rahab's sin of prostitution. The text is not trying to demonstrate that Rahab is righteous in and of herself, but rather that Rahab placed her loyalty in God instead of her own people and that fact led to her salvation.
- What is the result of Rahab's deception?
- God protects the spies. Note: this does not necessarily mean God endorsed Rahab's deception. God can work in spite of sin.
- What statement does Rahab make in Joshua 2:8-11?
- How does this match Joshua 1:9, Exodus 15:14-16, and Numbers 14:14?
- Remember, the two men were spies, what did their trip to Jericho tell them?
Rahab Showed Courage (Joshua 2:12-21)
- What request does Rahab make in Joshua 2:12-13?
- Rahab asked for kindness, the word she used (hesed) is used 250 times in the Old-Testament and "means loyal, steadfast, or faithful love based on a promise, agreement, or covenant. [1]
Closing
- The conquest of the promised land was a major undertaking and required a strong leader. Similarly, Bible believing churches have major tasks, challenges, and hurdles to overcome. What are some of these challenges?
- What past victories has God given you that give you confidence of future victories?
- We may not be leading a nation into the promised land, but I believe we are each called to Christian service. In what ways should we model the leadership that Joshua modeled in our Christian service?
