PROMISED LAND: RAHAB'S ATTIC
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Joshua is the man in charge (Moses died) preparing the people to enter into the Promised Land
While they are getting ready
And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
Josh 2:
Nun...
Friends to try it out for you...
Go and find Rahab
And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
Josh 2:2
When they got back...
And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”
Although they were not overcomers yet they knew that they would be
just because you struggling doesn’t mean that you will be overtaken
BUT sometimes we think we have to have the promise now but God wants us to wait
Could you imagine if the two men tried to take on all of Jericho alone?
2 less people would have recieved the promise
maybe more… wander another 40 years
We must learn to wait on the Lords timing
But they also came back and gathered up the others b/c they knew that together they could accomplish more
AA works well b/c they have a system in place to work with a sponsor and in a group
we can learn to get through struggles this way
but instead we see a problem and make a solo attack with no preparation and we get defeated
do you know the worst enemy of victory is defeat?
if it has beat you once it’s harder to beat the second time because we lose sight of victory
we must learn to have the foresight to know that our present does not define us but that we are children of the most HIGH KING
While the men are hiding Rahab comes to the men
Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
Josh 2:8-
Rahab was on the enemies side speaking on behalf of those who were against the Israelites ...
Even the enemy will hear and see the power of God
there is no stopping the Good News
While we are standing looking at our enemy Satan and all of his schemes feeling like we don’t know if we can do it or not
how can I accept Christ as my Savior
shame
fear
desires
BUT when we look at our circumstances in that way
our enemy is looking back knowing that if we call on the Name of the Lord then he is no match for us
it’s like a dog that barks to intimidate but then wets himself when you come up to it b/c it knows that it can’t do anything to you
How can I quit _______ or be bold enough to share my Jesus story with my neighbor
The enemy already knows of the power of God
We must do our part to share of the goodness of God so that more and more hear and know of Him and His Power
then Rahab says
Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”
Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.
Josh 2:12-14
b/c she knew of the power of God she (who was on the other side) sought to join God’s people and their mission b/c she didn’t want to be on the losing team anymore
When we share the power of God with those around us lives will change
WE MUST SEE BEYOND OUR CURRENT
WE MUST SHARE THE GOODNESS OF GOD WITH OTHERS
If you were sent into a place to find details about them who would you look up?
married couple with 2.5 kids (bible times 76 kids), 2 stall garage, middle aged, well dressed, in hopes that he would be kind and maybe be leading a secret Bible study in his basement
And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
I don’t believe these men stopped in for any reason other than God directed them there
while we look at the outward appearance of
God looks deep into the heart and he saw more than a prostitute that was on the enemy side of the wall
He saw a woman who was looking for God but hadn’t found Him yet
He opened a door of opportunity for her to have a new beginning and to make a difference in her life and in the lives of others
Sometimes we look at ourselves and think that we can’t be used by God but that is simply not true
Other-times we look at others and think that they would certainly not accept the Good News b/c of what we see with our eyes but God knows best
don’t judge a book by it’s cover
And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”
Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”
But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
I’m not sure which part of this story was for you today:
WE MUST SEE BEYOND OUR CURRENT
WE MUST SHARE THE GOODNESS OF GOD WITH OTHERS
GOD CAN USE WHAT LOOKS UNUSABLE TO THE HUMAN EYE