Tommy Estes
Joshua 2:1-24
Subject: Characteristics of Christ
Intro:
As the children of Israel get their marching orders from God, Joshua gets the people prepared for the battle of Jericho. Joshua instructs the people to place all of their trust in the Lord. Doing so leads to victory and success. While they prepare their hearts and minds for victory, Joshua sends out some spies to recon the city and its contents. As these two men enter the city they go to a harlots home by the name of Rahab. As they stay there the king of Jericho find out about there motives and he sends soldiers out for them. Obviously the king of Jericho is concerned for himself as well as his kingdom, having heard of the mighty things that God has done for the Children of Israel. Not only did the king know who this God was, but Rahab who was a harlot heard of such a God and feared Him.
It is very interesting and exciting to hear of such a woman who would take the occupation of a harlot to fear the Lord. If a person were to do a study about Rahab, one would find that she is an ancestor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can find her in the genealogy of Jesus in the book of Matthew chapter one and one has to ask their self; why would God allow a harlot to be in the genealogy of Christ? I believe that through this study of this chapter that we can see why God would allow a pagan harlot to be allowed in the genealogy of Christ through the characteristics of Rahab the harlot.
Through the characteristics of Rahab the harlot we can see Christ through her:
I. Protection. Vs 2-7
A. What caused her to give these two spies the protection that they needed? It was when Rahab recognized what the God of heaven had done to the other nations that the Israel came into contact she feared God for her life and her family. V13, 14
B. Rahab wanted to be sure that her family would not be included in the attack of the city. She knew that God would give Israel the upper hand.
C. Rahab knew that it was because she was a pagan and a sinner that God would execute judgment in on this kingdom. But by providing protection for these two spies, she thought that she and her family would be spared.
D. In the like manner when we realize our human state and repent of our sins we too can be forgiven and spared from the depths of sin that will ultimately be judged. Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23
E. Even though there was pagan men looking for the two spies of Israel, Rahab would not compromise and give them up. . Like Rahab, we can find protection in Christ. John 10:28-30 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
F. The bible clearly teaches us that when we place all of our faith and trust in Christ, He is faithful and just to not only forgive us from our sins. But Christ also doesn’t turn us back over to the judgment that we are due.
Next its through the characteristics of Rahab the harlot we can see Christ through her:
II. Confidence. Vs 9-11
A. What does it mean to have confidence? It means to have a trusting, or reliance; an assurance of mind or firm belief in the integrity, stability or veracity of another, or in the truth and reality of a fact.
B. It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Psa 118. Why? Because man will fail. We as carnal man not only fail God, but we also fail each other.
C. Rahab, placed her confidence, in God when she hid these spies. She trusted that God would be with these men, and also recognized that the same God that delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians would be the same God that would deliver Jericho unto their hand.
D. The characteristics of Christ can clearly be seen in His earthly great, great, great grandma. Its through these characteristics were we get out boost of confidence through Christ when Paul said in, Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
E. Rahab demonstrated this characteristic when she reassured these men not to fear. Not only did she boost the confidence in these men, but she also boosted the confidence in her family members as well.
F. She reminded her own family that the God of Israel would deliver them too, if they would place their faith and trust in God as well.
G. The same God that Rahab feared, and took care of Israel is the same God that is here today. He is the same God that dried the Red Sea and He is the same God that we have trust and confidence to protect us from the wrath and results of sin.
Lastly it’s through the characteristics of Rahab the harlot that we can see Christ through her:
III. Compassion. Vs. 10, 11.
A. Jesus let by this characteristic during His earthly ministry by having compassion.
B. Rahab showed compassion to the spies by showing her kindness, and showing her concern for them. She showed them a sorrow of sensation, she suffered with them, excited by the distress or misfortunes of one another.
C. Jesus was moved almost daily when He looked upon the souls from his seat in Heaven. He was moved with compassion when he saw our lost state in sin.
D. If Christ didn’t move with compassion, we would all be lost in sin and without hope. His heart broke for us and its because of this reason that He left the splendors of heaven to die in our place for our sins.
E. In Mic 7:19 God was moved with compassion over us when He said; He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Conclusion:
Through a study of the characteristics of a pagan harlot by the name of Rahab, we can clearly understand why God chose her to be in the genealogy of Christ. It’s through her motivation and understanding of who God is that we might become motivated to strive for such characteristics in our life. For each Child of God, we should do exactly that, strive to meet the standards of Jesus Christ. The only way to do that is by accepting these characteristics by having a heart that wants to be closer to Christ. The decision is up to you.
