An Unusual Ally

AN UNUSUAL ALLY

Joshua 2.1-24

S: Salvation for ALL

C: Purpose of the Community

Th: A People with Purpose

Pr: GOD DESIRES TO WORK HIS GRACE IN ALL SITUATIONS.

TS: We will find in our study of Joshua 2 how God uses the unexpected to show His grace.

Type: Narrative

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• God is gracing our community.

• God desires to demonstrate grace through our community of believers.

• God wants to show His grace to you.

Version: ESV

RMBC 11 June 06 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Secret: why does it have to be?

A mother was showing her son how to zip up his coat. “The secret,” she said, “is to get the left part of the zipper to fit in the other side before you try to zip it up.”

The boy looked at her quizzically... “Why does it have to be a secret?”

We are talking about spies and secrets today.

So…

1. How are you when it comes to keeping secrets?

ILL Secret: Lunch on the Bank (revised)

I was out fishing in a rowboat with two of our deacons, Sam and Bill. It was getting to be about noon and Sam noticed a nice spot on the bank to have lunch. He turned to Bill and me and said, “That looks like a nice spot for lunch. What do you say we have lunch over there?”

Bill agreed, and so did I. So Sam stood up in the boat, stepped out onto the river and walked over to the bank. I mean, I looked on with amazement, and thought to myself, if Sam is holy enough to walk on water, surely I can.

Then Bill stood up, picked up the picnic basket, stepped out of the boat, and walked over to the bank and sat with Sam. Again, in amazement, I thought, if Bill is holy enough to walk on water, surely I can.

So, I stood up, stepped out of the boat, and sank right into the water.

As I was floundering in the water, Sam turned to Bill and said, “Think we should have told him where the rocks are?”

Well, to keep a secret, you need to be able to keep your cool.

In today’s study, we are introduced, anonymously, to some spies that are sent out to inspect the Promised Land.

First, let us remember our study last week, when we were in the first chapter of Joshua.

2. Joshua knows his assignment.

Moses has died, and now he is in charge.

He has not become the leader in charge by some political process.

He has not become the leader by a popularity vote.

He has become the leader because God has chosen him to be so.

And now, he has received his instructions.

He is to be strong and courageous.

And He is to take the land that has been given to them.

He is to get going.

He is to get busy.

But there are some surprises in store.

For…

3. We will find in our study of Joshua 2 how God uses the unexpected to show His grace.

OUR STUDY:

First, let’s note that…

4. Joshua desired a scouting report (1).

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho."

We don’t know if this desire of Joshua is from God or not, but Joshua wants to get more information.

He wants to be a wise general and know what he is facing.

He wants to know the enemy and get their defenses examined.

So, from Shittim, which was several miles from Jericho, across the Jordan, two spies make their way to Jericho.

I am sure that Joshua selected these men very carefully, for we can be sure he did not want the mistakes of the past repeated.

He wanted a believing report, not an unbelieving one.

So, making it to Jericho…

5. The spies have unexpected lodging (1).

And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.

Did you hear that?

Wait a second…

Why go there?

Why go to a house of prostitution?

Doesn’t this look bad?

Isn’t this bad?

But it appears this was to be their modus operandi [op-er-on-die].

For their base of operations, in order to look like harmless visitors, they found a house that provided lodging and…well…other services.

And on the outside, it looked like a great plan.

But…

6. The great hideout turns out not to be so great (2).

And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."

It sounded like a clever plan, but their presence is soon discovered.