Intro: Remember that the book of Joshua is not about a group of people that were really good at conquering. They were instead at times really good at following the commands of the Living God. They learned to live with God active in their lives. What have we discovered so far? God did not create a dry and barren faith for us to walk in. However the Israelites wandering in the wilderness was given to us to show us that if we do not take God’s steps to victory we will have a barren, bitter, broken faith. Why did an entire generation have to die in the desert? So that their witness that God was not big enough to give them the land would die with them. So God wants us to be prepared for Him to do something in us. He always works on our hearts before He works through our hands. Psalm 24.3-5
He also wants to prepare us to meet Him. It is in ongoing communion with God that we are prepared with His character to face the conflicts in our life. The life of a Christ follower is given to us in the story and example of Joshua and the children of Israel. Their steps with God were marked by conflict. The conflict was never bad it was the way they dealt with it. AI was a defeat because they did not face the conflict in God’s way.
We are going to move on and focus on God’s providence as the nation of Israel moves into the Promised Land.
Dr Alan Redpath said, “The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, the manufacture of a saint is the task of a lifetime.”
Why do some Christians flourish and grow while others seem to fail and fade? Why do some lives end in tragedy and others triumph?
Dr Alan Redpath “It is not a snap decision that determines your destiny. Unless that decision for Christ is followed by a life directed by the Spirit of Christ, it is not valid, because it is direction, trend, progress that evidence a man’s destiny.”
So what is the evidence that I am God’s? First it is not a baptismal certificate, it is not church membership, it is not orthodox Christian beliefs, don’t get me wrong those are part of a life given to God. However the evidence that you are God’s is found in your relationship to Him over the long haul, and your relationship to others. So how is God’s hand evident in your life? What is he doing to remold and remake your conversations, your desires and dreams, your response to conflict, you response to pain etc. How you respond to God’s activity in your life determines whether your steps will lead to victory. So in chapter 2 we see the wonderful story of a woman who responds obediently to the activity of God.
I. The amazing advancement of the grace of God
It seems that God is always going places that the religious never will. The spies were sent our secretly, but what spy mission isn’t? They were sent most likely for the purpose of giving Joshua and his captains an idea of the best time and place to strike the walled city of Jericho.
Joshua was probably not allowing the general populace to know about the spy mission because of the disastrous report from the 10 spies at Kadesh Barnea. This spy expedition was not showing lack of faith on Joshua’s part. It shows that if we have faith it is to be an active faith. It was this very mission that would lead to the salvation of an entire family. Faith in an active God is to be active!
The spies went to the place that they would be least likely recognized. Again the providence or the active hand of God was both on the side of the Israelites and the prostitute Rahab.
According to ancient law and practices Rahab was expected to do her patriotic duty and turn the spies in. In the Hammurabi’s Code if the someone is plotting against the king and kingdom and the prostitute that runs the house does not turn the scoundrels in she is sentenced to death. Jericho was strategic to Israel but it was the strategy that conquered the city or the land of Canaan it was the active had of God advancing His kingdom.
II. The amazing acceptance of the grace of God
A) The reality of her profession
We are told in 1.1 that Rahab was a prostitute. The Hebrew word can mean “one who keeps and inn,” or “proprietress of an inn.” We find in James 2.25 and Hebrews 11.31 the writers used the Greek word that definitely means “a prostitute.” Once again the grace of God is amazing. God has always come for the sick and diseased, the oppressed and homeless, the outcasts and rejects. Those that were ridiculed by the religious were received by Jesus. It doesn’t matter your background, your addiction, your profession, your anything. When God advances with His grace anything is possible. A prostitute can become a princess of the most High God!! It was the active hand of God guiding the spies to Rahab’s house. If only we could look at people the way Jesus Christ does.
B) The reception of Gods promise (faith)
Faith is always placed on the firm promise of God. Faith is never in the dry dead facts of history. Instead faith is accepting the promise of a living person that wants to be active in your life. Joshua 2.9-2.11 is Rahabs confession of faith in the living God of Israel.
Notice how she confesses Him. I know (assurance), personal trust, the Lord (Yahweh) has given you this land.
Rahab had heard of Yahweh’s activity on behalf of the Israelites and believed it! She had not seen the walls of Jericho fall, the Jordan parted, the Red sea parted, Egypt defeated, the plagues pelting the people of Egypt. She heard and believed.
What is the best way to get someone to believe in Jesus Christ? Brag on His activity in your life! Hebrews 11.31 tells us “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she received the spies with peace.” Rahab had a faith that was alive and active!
My God, my Yahewh, my Jesus is alive! He is active. What are the two most powerful things that will hold back the activity of God in your life? The greatest barriers to stepping toward the victory purchased by Jesus Christ on the cross for you and for this body are disbelief and disobedience.
Rahab’s faith and adoption into the family of God made her a princess in the house of God. She is the great-great grandmother of David. She is one of I think three women mentioned in the line of Jesus in Matthew. Another principle we see in Rahab is that God’s grace grows in the most unlikely of soils! Never discount the activity of God in others lives.
C) The transformation of God’s promise
What about the lies that Rahab told? Again just because it is recorded in God’s word doesn’t mean it is approved. The Bible is clear that our God is a God of truth and we too are to be people of truth. However if Abraham and Isaac gave in to deception and lying don’t throw Rahab under the bus. The fact that she risked her life to safeguard the spies of Israel shows a deep trust God.
We can’t expect Rahab to know all of God’s character and act accordingly. However we see that she acted on the truth of who she believed God to be.
If you have just taken the first steps in your relationship with God I would expect you to slip because you don’t know Him completely. However, for those of you who say you have taken countless steps with God I would expect you to be more sure footed in the faith!
James the brother of Jesus saw her actions as the works of a true believer. James 2.25
D Martyn Lloyd- Jones says “faith shows itself in the whole personality.”
Warren Wiersbe says it this way, “The mind is instructed, the emotions are stirred, and the will then acts in obedience to God.”
Jesus Himself told us in Matt 7 it isn’t enough to say Lord, Lord. If you love me do what I say.
So when He tells u how to treat your spouse how do you respond?
When Jesus tells u how to manage your money how do you respond?
When Jesus tells u how to manage your time how do you respond?
When Jesus tells u how to respond to circumstances how do you respond?
When Jesus tells u to accept criticism with a smile how do you respond?
When Jesus tells u to take in a stranger how do you respond?
When Jesus tells u to change your conversation how do you respond?
When Jesus tells u to change your attitude how do you respond?
If you love me do what I say. Joshua 2.11 Has the grace of God melted your heart to the point of salvation?
III. The amazing encouragement of God’s activity (2.24)
They told Joshua, "The LORD has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us."
There is no better encouragement than to hear and see the active hand of God in and around your life. Why is God active in the lives of the people of Immanuel? So that this town, county, and state will one day know that there is a living God and He is active in the lives of His people. Be encouraged Immanuel. Be encouraged that God is still giving us this land! He is still offering grace to the most unlikely of people.
He is still providing for His children. If you want to see Him provide in your family do what He says. If you want to see Him provide in your finances do what He says. If you want to grow in your faith do what He says.
I want to tell you again what God has impressed on me as the vision for Immanuel. He wants us to be a discipleship hub for Carlisle, Lonoke and beyond. How is that accomplished? Day by day we listen and obey to the voice of God. We invest in the lives of those that are trusting Christ. We invest in each other’s lives. That means we need leaders, teachers, prayer team members, stewards of God’s resources.
At one point in time we had families that were giving to the vision fund. The beginning of the year was about $1000.00 If that were to happen for 12 months that would be 12,000.00. Think what would happen if we got the vision that any building we build would be used to disciple followers of Christ and equip them to be used of God to enlarge the kingdom?
God is still active. He is not the God of the past, or simply the God of the future. If you learn anything from this study of Joshua it is that Jesus is the active God of the Present!!!
Jesus gave a both encouraging and discouraging word in Matthew 4:35
1) Be encouraged God is always active planting seeds in the souls of men for salvation
2) Expect God to do something in the lives of people you encounter
3) Never think that what you do is of little value
The fields are white to harvest but the workers are few. There are Rahabs all around but not many willing to tell the activity of God in their lives.
Churchill said, “Wars are not won by evacuations!” Individual believers and churches don’t make a difference by being content with the status quo. We, too, must move forward. (We talk about building relationships, being on mission, etc) Are we?
Conclusion: Why according to the story of Rahab is God’s hand active on His obedient children?
For the increase of His glory and the advance of His grace in the lives of all people.
Is there any evidence in your life that your confidence is in God? What is your response to His love and grace?
