Reading: Joshua chapter 2 verse 1-24:
Quote:
• A pastor was speaking to his people on the relationship between fact and faith.
• He said, "That you are sitting before me in this church--is fact.
• That I am standing here, speaking from this pulpit--is fact.
• That I believe anyone is listening to me--is faith!"
Quote:
“If you tell a man that there are 300 billion stars in the universe, he'll believe you. But if you tell him a bench has just been painted, he has to touch it to be sure”.
Ill:
• The African impala is an animal that can jump to a height of over 10 feet;
• And cover a distance of greater than 30 feet.
• Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall.
• The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.
• They are creatures without faith.
• Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see,
The most important thing I want you to note about Rahab; was her faith!
• Ultimately that is the most important thing about any person,
• For “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6).
Ill.
• There once was a rather rough, uncultured man;
• Who for some reason fell in love with a beautiful vase in a shop window.
• Eventually he bought the vase and put it on the mantelpiece in his room.
• There it became a kind of judgment on its surroundings.
• He had to clean up the room to make it worthy of the vase.
• He changed the curtains because they looked dingy beside it.
• The old chair with the stuffing coming out of the seat would not do.
• The wallpaper and the paint needed redoing.
• Gradually the whole room was transformed.
• Because of the presence of the vase!
Note:
• When you put Christ on the mantel of your heart,
• Your whole life starts to be transformed!
• And if we are not experiencing the work of God in our lives;
• Is it because he is not on the mantel, the centre point!
• At the start of this chapter Rahab is a prostitute; a woman in a house of shame,
• She was engaged in a wicked lifestyle whereby she sold her body to men for money.
• At the end of the chapter - as we will see - she will be a different Rahab
• Someone who will be greatly honoured in God’s hall of fame (Hebrews chapter 11).
Question: What made the difference?
Answer: Her faith!
• Ultimately that is the most important thing about any person,
• For “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6).
• This chapter brings to our attention 3 demonstrations of faith,
• And show us that Rahab was a woman of true faith!
(1). Courageous faith (verses 1-7).
1Then 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.
2The king of Jericho was told, “Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3So 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.”
4But 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. 5At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men 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.) 7So 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.
(a). Joshuas plan (vs 1):
1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.”
Ill:
• One story has dominated the news over the past week;
• A British army informer codenamed "Stakeknife".
• Real name: Alfredo "Freddie" Scappaticci.
• Has for the past 20 years been working inside the Irish Republican Army.
• He was the deputy head of the Provisionals' internal security unit.
• He went into hiding following allegations;
• That he was paid £80,000 a year for 25 years by military intelligence.
Our passage this evening reminds us:
• That spying is not a modern invention,
• It is a strategy Joshua used as long ago the year 1,240 B.C.
In verse 1:
• Joshua commissions the spies to look over the land and focus in on Jericho.
• Because of its geographical position Jericho was a key city to conquer.
Ill:
• Enemy invading England and capturing Birmingham.
• e.g. drive a wedge between the North and the South of the country,
This was Joshua’s battle plan:
• After taking the city of Jericho,
• Joshua could then cut straight across and divide the land in two;
• With Jericho taken it would be so much easier;
• To defeat the cities in the south and then in the north.
Jericho was a satellite city:
• Each one of Canaan’s cities was ruled by a king (e.g. Joshua chapter 12 verse 9-24).
• The city covered about eight or nine acres of land.
• And there is archaeological evidence that the city was protected.
• By double walls about fifteen feet apart.
• We know from verse 15:
• That Rahab’s house was built on the outer wall.
The citizens of Jericho were cruel:
• Archalogial discoveries e.g. The Ras Shamra Tablets inform us;
• That among there many gods they worshipped Baal and Ashtaroth, the gods of fertility,
• Whose worship encouraged sexual licence,
• In fact their temples were full of prostitutes.
• Worse than that, they also worshipped Chemosh,
• A god to whom children were sacrificed.
• It was because of their cruelty and depravity that God ordered their destruction.
• Ill: Cancer, often the only cure is to cut out, remove the infected part.
(B). Jehovahs providence (vs 2-7).
• Joshua sent two men to spy out the land;
• Their objective was to get information about Jericho.
• Joshua wanted to know how the citizens of Jericho were reacting,
• When they heard the news that Israel’s armies were marching closer & closer to them.
Note: Sending two spies wasn’t an act of unbelief on Joshua’s part:
• It was wise planning.
• Joshua knew that God had already given him the land and the people (see 1:11, 15).
• But a wise general needs to learn all he can about the enemy before he goes into battle.
• True faith up to a point works alongside common sense & human wisdom,
Ill:
• Last two weeks ITV have been showing “I’m a celebrity get me out of here!”.
• Famous people put in difficult and complex situations.
• If you tuned in;
• You will have noticed how they struggled to overcome their difficult situation.
Now imagine God was calling you to some jungle situation:
• Only this was not a game show and not for two weeks, but for two years.
• I guarantee that you would all have all the recommended injections (& find out info).
• Ultimately you would be trusting God to provide and protect you in that situation,
• But wisdom says you should do everything possible to make sure your plans worked out.
Note: We certainly have to believe in the providence of God in these verses:
• Providence simply means;
• God arranging circumstances and situations to fit together.
• Rahab was the only person in Jericho who trusted the true God of Israel,
• And not by chance but by divine providence God brought the spies to her.
Quote George Mullar:
“If our circumstances find us in God, we shall find God in our circumstances”.
• In other words;
• There are no accidents in the life of a godly Christian, only appointments!
Verse 1b:
• Remember when these spies entered Jericho, they went to the home of a prostitute,
• Question: Why?
• Answer: Well, the sight of men entering a prostitute’s home,
• Would not be unusual and would not attract too much attention.
Although Joshua sent his spies “secretly” (verse 1).
• The king of Jericho had a very good intelligence department;
• Because he knew that two spies were somewhere in his city.
• And although he knew they were about,
• He was unable to locate them and arrest them.
• Because Rahab had hidden them on the roof under the stalks of flax (verse 6),
• And for the time being they were safe.
Note again the providence of God:
• Question: Where would you least expect a believer in the true God to be?
• Answer is in a brothel!
• Or to bring it up to date:
• You would not expect a Christian to be working as a stripper in a lap-dancing club!
• The two spies enter Rahab’s house,
• And they must have been totally surprised to find there a believer in the true God.
(3). Joshuas prominence (verse 7):
Now don’t miss what the author of the book of Joshua emphasises;
• The emphasis is not on the ethical & moral questions raised in this passage:
• e.g. Is it right to lie? Or e.g. How can a true believer live as a prostitute?
• The emphasises in the chapter is deliberately placed elsewhere!
• The author does not want us to miss the main point of this incident.
Ill:
• Imagine I offer you a chocolate from a very expensive brand,
• They are all individually wrapped and they look very, very nice.
• But instead of being taken up with the chocolates spread out before you,
• You are concerned with the fact that the box is a bit tatty (opened & creased & dirty)
• You will have missed the whole point of my generous act!
• Your focus was all wrong, look at the chocolates not the box.
Noting:
• That the New Testament writers does not fall into the trap of missing the main point,
• It consistently stresses the faith of Rahab, not her mistakes!
• e.g. Hebrews chapter 11 verse 31;
• e.g. James chapter 2 verse 25.
Both writers stress the faith of Rahab, not her mistakes!
• This does not mean that the New Testament writers;
• Either approves or disapproves of Rahab’s lie or lifestyle.
• The writers focus on and draw our attention to the key truth of the passage,
• Not the secondary, minor details, but the primary – Rahab’s faith!
Ill:
When looking at Old Testament characters we must always be careful to distinguish
• Between what the Bible reports and what it recommends,
• Between what it records and what it requires.
• e.g. The Bible reports that Jacob had four wives;
• It obviously it is not encouraging us to do the same.
Now in verse 7:
• The writer deliberately creates suspense at the end of this verse,
• With the words; “The gate was shut”;
• The readers are left asking the question,
• “How in the world will those spies get out of the city when the gates have been shut?”
• In ancient times when the city gates were shut,
• No-one got in and no-one got out of the city (guarded and protected for obvious reasons).
• Any ancient reader of this story would know that and so would be asking the question:
• “How will these spies get out of the city & back to safety now that the gates have been shut?”
ill:
• Cliff-hanger moment in the story,
• A bit like the old Batman and Robin episodes…. find out next week!
Now although the writer wants you to feel anxiety at the end of verse 7:
• Note that this tension is not relieved until verse 15,
• It is another eight verses in the story, before the question is answered.
• In between the writer quite deliberately and purposefully;
• Places Rahab’s confession of faith (verses 8-14).
It is as if the writer is telling us, the readers:
“Don’t bother your head about how those two spies will escape;
there is something far more important that I want to tell you; and here it is in these 8 verses.”
• It is the writer’s way of drawing to our attention to what Rahab is about to say,
• So important is it, that all other matters must be placed on the back burner for now.
The emphasises, the most important thing about Rahab was her faith:
• That is the main point of this passage,
• That Rahab a Canaanite prostitute had enough faith to save her & her family.
Quote:
“It's not what men eat, but what they digest that makes them strong;
Not what we gain, but what we save that makes us rich;
Not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned;
Is not the acquisition of truth, but the application of truth that makes us Christians”.
(B). Confident Faith (verses 8-14).
“Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you 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. 10We 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. 11When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12Now 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 13that 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.”
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.”
• Rahab informs the two spies of four truths she has discovered;
• 4 things on which her faith is based.
(1). The Might of the true God (verse 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.”
• It had been 40 years since the Hebrews left Egypt:
• But the dramatic way that God delivered them from Pharaoh (Red Sea crossing);
• And the stories of how they had defeated various kings along the way.
• Had gone before them and people knew what events had taken place.
This verse tells us the basis of Rahab’s faith;
• She had heard about the mighty acts of God,
• Even though her knowledge of the true God was meagre,
• But she acted on the little she knew;
• And that was more than enough to save her.
Ill:
• Aeroplane trip.
• Mustard seed or mountain it is the source that is important..
Rahab’s faith was based on facts, not just feelings;
• For she had heard of the miracles God had performed,
• Starting with the opening up of the Red Sea at the Exodus.
• The normal way of coming to faith: Is based on at least some knowledge, & information.
• Quote: “Faith comes…..God” (Romans chapter 10 verse 17).
Ill:
• When couples “fall” in love;
• They don’t come to love each other merely by sight!
• They still have to talk, to communicate, find out about each other;
• Their past, their likes, their dislikes, their character, and so on.
• All relationships are based in some knowledge.
• So is the case with faith.
• Faith is not just a warm, cosy feeling about God.
• Faith grows, if at all, out of hearing what God has done for his people.
(2). The Majesty of the true God (verse 11):
“When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below”.
• Then Rahab confesses the majesty of the true God!
• Remember this is a pagan, Canaanite prostitute.
• She should by rights know nothing of the true God.
• Yet she is confessing him as good as any devout “Israelite” would & could.
Note:
• Pagan nations believed in local deities.
• Each nation had there own gods, who looked after their country.
• The Jews were different in a number of ways,
• First they believed and taught that there was only one God,
• Second they believed and taught that the true God was not restricted by nations,
• Or by borders or language or culture or anything - He is the God of heaven and earth!
So Rahab a woman whose life had been imprisoned in pagan idolatry!
• Makes this great statement,
• That Israel’s God is the only God functioning in heaven and upon earth.
• (a). She believed in one God,
• Not in the multitude of gods that populated the heathen temples of Jericho.
• (b). She believed He was a personal God (“your God”),
• Who would work on behalf of those who trusted Him.
• (c). She believed He was a living God,
• Who would give the land to His people.
(3). The Mercy of the true God (12-13)
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 13that 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.”
• All of this knowledge leads Rahab to seek the mercy of the true God.
• This is again the evidence of real faith.
• Genuine faith never rests with just being convinced that there is a God
• Genuine faith presses on to take refuge in God.
Ill:
• James said (chapter 2 verse 11) about believing in the one God:
• “Even the demons believes that and shudders”.
• Yet that knowledge does them no good what so ever!
• Big difference between the demons and some of us – “they shudder!”
Listen saving faith:
• Not only knows the truth about God
• But warns us to escape the coming judgement of God.
• It isn’t just a matter of correct belief but of desperate need.
• Saving faith is always like this.
• Rahab not only trembles before the terror of the Lord,
• But also senses that there might be mercy for her in this fearful God.
Rahab’s conversion was truly an act of God’s grace.
• Like all the citizens of Jericho & Canaan,
• Rahab was under condemnation and destined to die.
• The Jews were going to “utterly destroy them” and show them no mercy,
• Rahab was a Gentile, outside the covenant mercies shown to Israel,
• She didn’t deserve to be saved,
• But God had mercy on her – God is rich in mercy!
Ill:
• Mr F. is my friend; might say; “Do me a favour…….etc”
• Mercy, no bargaining power.
(C). Covenant faith (verse 15-24):
15So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16Now 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.”
17The men said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18unless, 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. 19If 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. 20But 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.
22When 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. 23Then 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. 24They said to Joshua, “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
(1). A contract (verse 14).
A covenant is simply an agreement:
• A treaty between two or more parties,
• With certain conditions laid down for all parties to obey.
Rahab wanted assurance from the two spies that when the city was taken:
• They would guarantee her family’s safety.
• The men gave her that guarantee in two ways (verse 14):
• First: they pledged their word,
• Secondly: they pledged their lives that they would not break their word.
• In other words, they became surety for Rahab’s family,
• Notice that the agreement (covenant) was conditional:
• The spies warned Rahab that she must not divulge any of this information;
• To anybody in the city other than the members of her family.
• If she did, their agreement was cancelled.
• And she would miss out on the protection and safety she wanted.
Since the men didn’t know God’s plan for taking the city,
• They couldn’t give Rahab any detailed instructions.
• The men knew the ultimate outcome but did not know the imminent battle plan.
• So in verse 18 they tell her to hang a scarlet cord from her window.
• This was an essential part of the deal!
Ill:
Often in the covenants of the Bible:
• God involves some physical or material “token”
• To remind the people of what had been promised.
• e.g. His covenant with Abraham;
• Was “sealed” by the rite of circumcision (Gen. 17:9-14; Rom. 4:11).
• e.g. When God established His covenant with Israel at Sinai (Ex. 24:3-8; Heb. 9:16-22).
• Both the covenant book and the covenant people were sprinkled with blood
• e.g. As the token of the covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:12-17),
• God gave the sign of the rainbow in the sky.
• e.g. And the Lord Jesus Christ used the broken bread and the cup of wine;
• As tokens of the New Covenant (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
Ill:
• It is something like a husband who sends a card or note through the mail to his wife;
• Telling her how much she means to him.
• She shouldn’t need that “token” to know that he loves her,
• But the fact she has it, is a reminder that she is loved and appreciated.
• So God understands our needs.
• And along side his covenants he gives us something tangible as a reminder!
(2). A sign (verse 15). In the case of Rahab:
• The spies instructed her to hang a scarlet rope out of the window of her house:
• Remember her house was built into the wall (verse 15),
• Jericho was protected by double walls about fifteen feet apart.
• Slum housing was built in or on the outer walls of the city.
• This scarlet rope would identify the “house of safety”;
• To the army of Israel when they came to take the city.
It is important to note:
• That Rahab and her family were saved by faith in the God of Israel,
• And not by faith in the rope hanging out the window.
• The fact that she hung the rope from the window was proof that she had faith,
• And not the object of her faith!
Ill:
• Sadly when it comes to spiritual matters;
• Too many people put the ‘cart before the horse’,
• They trust in the tokens that God gives us for salvation,
• Instead of the giver and source – God himself!
• Many people today depend for their salvation on their baptism;
• Or their participation in the Eucharist, Communion.
• But this kind of faith is vain.
• Saving faith trusts in God alone and not in the tokens he gives to us.
(3). A message (verses 1-24).
• The way of salvation- i.e. how an individual can be made right with God,
• Is illustrated clearly in this story.
(1). HER SPIRITUAL CONDITION:
• She was sinner and she knew it.
• And so did all the people who knew her in and around Jericho.
• This might shock you;
• But unless you reach that understanding, then you cannot be saved!
Ill:
• Fallen short of God’s standard.
• Whether you miss by a 10 feet or by 10 miles it does not matter (you missed!)
(2). SHE WAS UNDER CONDEMNATION
• She lived in a city that was waiting for destruction!
• In a matter of days the city would be under new occupation.
• There is a parallel for us today
• Jesus himself said (John 3vs 18): “He who does not believe is condemned already”.
Ill:
• We will one day stand before God and he will say why should I let you into my heaven?
• The answer you choose to live by in this life, will be your answer then!
(3). SHE EXPERIENCED GOD’S MERCY.
• She had heard abut the Hebrews God, and asked for mercy.
• Question: Have you! (No bargaining power).
Ill:
• Tax collector and the Pharisee praying in the Temple.
• Pharisee prayed with himself!
• But the tax-collector: “Have mercy on me a sinner!”
• He went home justified.
4 signs of her conversion:
(1). SHE LABOURED FOR THE LORD.
• One of the surest proofs that Rahab was genuinely converted;
• Is the fact that she involved herself with the work of the Lord.
• She hid the spies and covered up for them.
• We might not approve of her actions but you cannot deny her allegiance!
Question: Are you involved in the work of God?
Answer: “Only one life will soon be past, only that’s done for Christ will last”.
(2). SHE LOVED THE LOST.
• Notice that Rahab is concerned about others in her family who are in danger as well.
• She now knows that God will take care of her.
• She wants the same assurance for her family.
• Her heart is moved to reach out for help for them.
• Imagine what risk she placed herself at in telling her family of her plan.
• Question: What about us?
(3). SHE EXPERIENCED A CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE.
• When the Hebrews took the city,
• Rahab left prostitution and experienced a new life.
• Joshua chapter 6 verses 6-25; Matthew chapter 1 verse 5; Ruth chapter 4 verse 21.
• When all these verses are taken together, we have the rest of the story concerning Rahab.
• She married into the people of Israel and became part of all the covenant blessings of the Lord. She went from being part of judged nation to being part of a holy nation!
• Rahab took on a new lifestyle and committed herself to the things of God’s people.
• Question: How about you?
(4). SHE FOUND A NEW FAME.
• Rahab was taken from the house of shame and wound up in the hall of fame.
• She would become David's great-great grandmother & she was the mother-in-law of Ruth.
• More importantly this woman became and ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• God took her from the very gutter and linked her to his own son!
• She went from rags to riches,
• From death to life!
Ill:
The Titanic was a cruise ship that was impossible to sink, or so they said.
• On a tragic night in 1912 the ship struck an iceberg and sank.
• Many died in that cold Atlantic Ocean.
The scene outside the White Star office in Liverpool beggared description:
• A great crowd of relatives of those who had were passengers;
• On that ill-fated vessel thronged the street.
• On either side of the main entrance of the White Star office in Liverpool;
• A large board had been placed.
• Above one side was printed the words, KNOWN TO BE SAVED.
• And above the other, KNOWN TO BE LOST.
Every now and then:
• A man would appear from the office bearing a large piece of cardboard;
• Written on it was the name of one of the passengers.
• As he held up the name, a deathly stillness swept over the crowd;
• It watched to see to which of the boards he would pin the name.
• You see there were only two categories there;
• The saved and the lost,
Challenge tonight is this; which group do you fit into!
