Living Up to the Lowest of Lows
Joshua 2:1-24
Introduction
A. Today we are going to do something that we do not normally do in Church
B. Were going to openly discuss a prostitute
C. Wow, your all looking at me a little funny!
D. Seriously though, we are going to look at the life of Rahab
E. First we have to catch up on what is going on in the History of the Bible
F. The Israelites have been wondering around in the desert for about 40 years and well they are getting a little sick of it
G. Moses died and Joshua took over
H. Joshua in the first chapter basically get commissioned by the Lord and the people of Israelites
I. Joshua sends two spies to Jericho to scope out the land
J. The found a safe place to stay, a place were they could go basically without being noticed
K. The hid at Rahab’s house, thinking that no one would come looking for them there
L. Someone however, snitch (I wonder how much he got to do that) and told the king that there are some Israelites who came to spy on us
M. So we pick up the story here
N. (Read 2:1-24)
O. This is a amazing story we are going to look at:
a. God’s Provision
b. God’s Protection
c. God’s Purpose
I. God’s Provision (8-11)
A. Explanation
1. Rahab was no dummy
2. She new exactly what was going on
3. She had been receiving a copy of the USA Today and read the newspaper
4. She heard about what the Israelites have accomplished in the last 40 years that they were running around the dessert
a) She heard about how the Red Sea parted and the Israelites walked across on dry land – this is front page news
b) She heard about what happen to Sihon and Og
(1) You forgot what happens (Read Judges 11:21-22)
5. She read all these things, heard all this Gossip, was able to weed out the fact and the stories and come to one of the most remarkable conclusions you could imagine
6. Read 2:11
7. Rahab realized that the Israelites God is God.
8. She realized that God has been protected and providing for them all along
B. Application
1. So what does this mean to our lives?
2. It is embarrassing sometime how Rahab can see these things going on and Christians will miss it
3. We go a long thinking that nothing special is happening
4. There is a statement out there that if the Holy Spirit would leave about 90% of the Church’s functions would continue
5. That is not right
6. We do not recognizes things that are happening
7. We do not give God credit for what he is doing.
8. We often come up with the idea that he does not care
9. That is not the case at all, we just fail to recognize what he is doing
C. Illustration
1. Perhaps I can best illustrate what I am trying to say by using my wife and I as an example. Many people have asked Heather and I when we started dating. We laugh at that question. To answer it honestly, we don’t know. Ill help you out it was somewhere between 1995 and 2000. It was a progression. As I look back on it, I realize that there were many different ways God was providing, guiding, and leading us.
2. God makes provisions in every ones life.
3. The sad part is that we do not recognize it, and we do not give credit were credit is due
4. Rahab was able to figure it out, shouldn’t you be able to?
II. God’s Protection (2-7)
A. Explanation
1. There was a code back then called Hammurabi’s Code
a) What it said was “If felons are banded together in a prostitute’s house and she does not inform the palace, that prostitute shall be put to death
2. So some palace officials came to her house and asked her were these spies were
3. Of course she knew were they were she has hidden them on her roof
4. But she knew if she would tell the palace officials they would kill the Israelites
5. She was faced with a dilemma
6. A dilemma that leads to a tough question. Is it acceptable to lie at any time?
7. Little bonus history lesson, back in 1804 there were a group of Baptist that had this dispute, the question would be if they lied and saved a kids life from an hostile Indian was it right. The ended up causing a split and the one group became known as the lying Baptist
8. Is it ok to lie in those cases? Guess what? I am not going to answer that, search your hearts.
9. However that is not the real point of the situation
10. The point is that Rahab was willing to stand up for God against the enemy
11. That is what we need to understand
B. Application
1. How can we apply this to our lives?
2. Rahab showed great courage in standing against her enemies
3. The Lord provided protection
4. There will be times in your lives were you have to be willing to stand up against the enemy
5. We are told that god will protect
6. And we all admit that will happen
7. But what about when push comes to shove, what about when it is all on the line?
8. What will you do then?
C. Illustration
1. On November 10th we will be having a special service for the persecuted church, you will be getting more information in the coming weeks. We like to think that there is no persecution but look at this world. It is happening all over the world. Now this persecution could easily be stopped. All that would have to happen is for Christians do deny their faith. Guess What? That is not going to happen
2. Christ is too important for that and means too much to them
3. Are you willing to do the same?
4. Are you willing to seek god’s protection and stand before then enemy?
III. God’s Purpose (12-24)
A. Explanation
1. First we need to keep something in mind (Read 2 Peter 3:9(Isn’t that a comforting verse))
2. Rahab admits that she needs salivation
3. Notice that she does not just say that she believes in God
4. Even the devil believes in God
5. She knows that the whole city is going to be destroyed
6. And realizes that she needs to do something about it
7. So she pleads with the Israelites spies to save her and her family
8. Sure enough they agree (Read 14)
9. Now all she had to do was get all her family into her house and tie a red rope outside her window
10. Notice she was not concerned with just her own life but her families salivation too
B. Application
1. How can we apply this to our lives
2. This should effect us on two different levels
3. Once we realized what all God has done for us and what will happen to us we should seek his salivation
a) Rahab realize that he is the way the truth and life. However, she did not have the easy access to God that we have now
b) We have the cross, we have God’s only son dying for our sins, all we have to do is turn our lives over to him
4. The other side is to be concerned for the salivation for our family.
5. Lets be honest hear we care the most about our family it is just the way God designed us
6. Many of you constantly express the desire to see your family experience Christ’s salvation.
7. Never loose that desire
8. Constantly be asking God to lead them to Him, constantly ask others to pray for them
9. Never give it up.
10. (Read 2 Peter 3:9 again)
C. Illustration
1. Herb McCoy. You do not think that Herb was just board and had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning then to come to church do you? Let me tell you he had a wife that loved him and loved God and wanted more then anything for him to experience God’s salvation. He did! He is in heaven! Praise be to God!
2. Who do you need to start praying for, constantly?
Conclusion
A. Rahab has a pretty remarkable story
B. You know on top of that turn to (Math 1:5)
C. There she is.
D. She found the Lord and chose to follow him
E. The question is you on the same level as this prostitute?
a. Have you realized what God has done and doing? Or do you just complain and think that he does not care?
b. Are you willing to stand up for God against the enemies? Or are you going to just crumble at the first sign of struggle
c. Are you concerned with the salvation of your family? Or are you just going to pray for them once in a while? Are you willing to make this your highest burden?
F. Rahab was willing to stand up for God
G. Are you willing to stand up for Jesus?
