July 14 Joshua 2
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rahab, an unlikely hero
rahab, an unlikely hero
When I was growing up there was a guy in my church who’s name was Jimmy Hall. When I was in middle school/and even in to high school Jimmy was the guy who was always at church, and was always friendly to us kids.
Jimmy was probably about 30 or so when he would invite us onto his family’s land to camp. We would fish, we would hike. There were other times when he would take me and my other three or four friends to go skiing, or go to the movies. He was an awesome guy to have around.
One of the greatest things about Jimmy was that he worked for Sentman distributers which supplied coca cola products. So that meant that whenever we hung out with Jimmy we got to have free sodas.
He even had a fountain drink dispenser in the back of his pick up truck which was awesome! We would get out of our tents after a night of camping and would pour our morning coca cola.
Jimmy was also our high school Sunday School teacher. You need to understand that Jimmy was just a normal guy. He wasn’t exactly a theologian, he didn’t have all the answers, he was about as perfect as us teenagers but he was willing to be used by God.
He gave our class a challenge one summer. If we could come to Sunday School every week for 10 weeks in a row, he would give us a 6 pack of coke. That was a really big deal.
It got me and all of my friends in Sunday School every week. I think he even had some bible memorization motivation there too.
I want to stress the fact that maybe he didn’t have all the answers, maybe Jimmy wasn’t perfect, but Jimmy was there! He made time for us, and I guarantee doesn’t know the impact that he had on 4 teenagers who grew up at the North East United Methodist Church.
I tell you that this morning for a simple reason:
God can use whomever He wishes to carry out His plan. No matter how small, weak or obscure. God will use just normal, sinful people to accomplish His plan.
Too many of us think that we have to be this or that to be used by God when in fact, the only thing you need to be used by God is to be willing. To be willing to be used by God.
This morning as we continue this series on Joshua we are going to look at a really cool story that illustrates that fact. Remember that the time in the wilderness is coming to a close. We talked last week about how God has told Joshua to get ready. They are headed to the promised land. This is it, this is what it is all about.
Rahab was a prostitute, doesn’t make it right
1 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. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 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.” 4 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. 5 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.” 6 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. 7 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.
Rahab was a double agent
The fist thing Joshua does in preparation for taking the promised land is to send some guys, secretly into the first city they come to before they cross the Jordan river.that city is Jericho. The Jordan river is the boundary of the city. Funny that only two spies are sent, and sent in secret.
Rahab was a liar.
But Rahab was also a hero. That is right, a hero. Why?
But the spies, who aren’t named sneak into the city for some recon.
Rahab recognized who God was, His Power etc.
Honestly, I don’t think they are very good spies at all. It appears that people know what is going on. Verse two says that reports came to the king that there were men of Israel in the city.
Rahab heard and believed
Those guys are holding up in the house of a prostitute named Rahab.
She submitted herself to the Lord
Now Rahab is an interesting character. We really don’t know much about her except this story and a couple of references.
1 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. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 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.” 4 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. 5 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.” 6 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. 7 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.
Somehow, God’s providence leads them to Rahab (prostitute) Some suggest it is God’s grace that such a woman would be used by God but God can use anyone He chooses.
V1
Need to get through Jericho to get to the promised land.
To take the city they need information. We call it reconnaissance today.
So the whole city is on edge. They are terrified because of the history. The actual history. From what we see later in this chapter Rahab tells the spies she wants to help them because she fears God.
Two spies were chosen (names?)
She fears God. She isn’t part of Israel, she isn’t part of the chosen nation but she is obviously smart.
See, everyone in that city knew that there were hundreds of thousands of people camped on their border. The whole city had heard about the parting of the Red Sea 40 years earlier. That whole city heard about the battle that happened with two other nations. They were scared and Rahab is an opportunist and a quick thinker.
God’s providence leads them to Rahab (prostitute) Some suggest it is God’s grace that such a woman would be used by God but God can use anyone He chooses.
Joshua: A Commentary Mission Accomplished
By her astute grasp on reality and quick thinking, she is able to assure the safety of her family and the continued existence of her descendants.
Rahab is in control here. She could give them up but she fears the Lord.
She hid them in some flax that was drying on the roof. They used it for making cloth. They would soak it for three or four weeks and then dry it which would make it able to be made into cloth.
v5
Rahab sends the men on a wild goose chase.
This was incredibly faithful on her part. The New Testament writers even list her as a faithful servant who feared the Lord.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Hebrews 11
Both parts of scripture applauding her. Rahab was an intriquil part of Israel getting into the promised land. She feared the Lord, she recognized the power of God. But we do have to address something that has been talked about for years.
She lied. There has been a lot of ink spilled on this subject. Was it right for her to lie? Because she did. Are there any special situations where it is okay to lie? Do the ends justify the means? I will tell you that this is really hard, and the question we need to as is ‘can God accomplish His plans without someone sinning?’
But, can God accomplish His plans without someone sinning?
Why would the NT guys give such celebration to her?
There is another area in scripture that talks about something similar. In the beginning of Exodus the two midwives—who were supposed to kill newborn, male Hebrew babies let them live and were confronted. They were asked by the King of Egypt how this happened, why did you let the babies live? And they lied and said that the mothers were vigorous and had the babies before they got there. It wasn’t true..
But They are commended too. But they aren’t commended for lying, they are commended for their faith. Their fear of the Lord. Their actions showed that they wanted to obey God rather than men.
So we don’t celebrate or gloss over the fact that Rahab lies, we commend her for her faith and that she fears God more than man.
She is very faithful and very intelligent.
8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 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. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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 13 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.” 14 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.”
She says, “I am no dummy?” I know the history… let’s make a deal
The spies had to be secret. Everyone knew about the hundreds of thousands of people who were camped less than 10 miles away.
But apparently they weren't very good spies. Somehow some people noticed the spies and recognized them as Israel and they told the king.
The King ordered the men taken but.. (they were scared)
v5
Rahab sends the men on a wild goose chase
8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 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. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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 13 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.” 14 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.”
Joshua 2
Why?
v 8-11
She is helping because she and all her people fear the Lord. Literally fear the Lord. They know the history and they believe it. This is really interesting because you have a whole city that believes and is affected by God more than God’s people.
Even though this happened 40 years earlier, the people know what happened. Her belief and loyalty to God, Moved her to take her own life into her own hands and fight for the Lord.
V 12-14 talk about that deal... She helps them, they won’t hurt her or her family. They agree.
Now here is something we need to understand...
The deal. She helps them, they won’t hurt her or her family. They agree
This covenant, this deal, would bring Rahab’s family into Israelite society, so Rahab and her family here ceased to be Canaanite and became part of Israel’s family. Rahab is acting as spokeswoman and agent for the family.
As an oath of fealty, this covenant would bring Rahab’s family into Israelite society. As would happen with the Gibeonites, so Rahab and her family here ceased to be Canaanite and became part of Israel’s family. Rahab is acting as spokeswoman and agent for the family.41 A female, rather than a male, leads this extended family and her faith delivers it.
v 15-16
Hess, R. S. (1996). Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 6, p. 101). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
v 15-16
The escape. Let them down by a rope, had them hide in the hills for 3 days.
v 17-21
Finalizing the details of the deal. Scarlet rope. Keep your word and we will keep our word.
v 22 The men did what she said v 23-24 The favorable report.
The men did what she said v 23-24 The favorable report.
v 23-24
The favorable report.
God can use anybody. It doesn’t matter where you are, it doesn’t even matter what sin you committed this morning. God will allow you to turn it around.
Rahab gave it all up because she recognized that she was powerless on her own. She would give up her prostitution because to be part of Israel would mean that she would have to.
We know that she marries and becomes part of that society.
Remember that God can use anybody, and does.
I think this is such an important story, not just because this is the first step in Israel getting into the promised land, but that we see how one person can play such a huge part in the lives of so so many.
Rahab had everything going against her.
Woman, Prostitute, a liar, and was giving up her nationality, everything familiar to her.
She made this choice because she understood the power of God. She heard the stories and she acted in faith.
Please know that she wasn’t qualified on her own but God qualified her. And guess what, He will do that for you too. Whenever we put God above our desires, above our circumstances. Anytime we are faithful, to step out in faith even when it looks hard, that is when God can really shine in our lives.
Rahab, the prostitute, did just that. She trusted that God was more powerful and that if she is going to pick a side, she should be on His side.
It must have been a hard decision in some sense, but in another sense, maybe it was easy.
I want for us to be encouraged by this story. Encouraged because God can use us little people to be part of something really big. For Rahab it was just logical. She was first generation Red Sea crossing. She heard the reports, maybe they thought the reports were fake until the evidence started rolling in.
She heard about the Red Sea thing. Then this group of nomads, the million plus group moving around the desert. Kind of weird. And they battled against these other cities and won.
She says, “I think I want to be on the side of the one who takes care of this group. I want to be in this group.
You can do the same exact thing today. You can make the same decision Rahab did. You can put your faith and your trust in God because of who God is. And then believe that God is using you whether it feels like it or not.
For Rahab, it was all about that decision to protect those spies. That was the moment in her life to yield to God.
So, Israel gets their foot in the door of the promised land as this report comes back to Joshua. It’s a big deal.
Believe it or not, there is one more important part of this story of Rahab. She is actually more important than we realize. She is mentioned in Matthew in the long geneology that not many people get joy out of. But let me just show this to you.
She is actually more important than we realize. She is mentioned in Matthew.
5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
Rahab is Ruth’s mother in law.... Rahab is Jesse’s Great Grandmother. That means that Rahab is David’s Great Great Grandmother.
David’s Great Great Grandmother.
If she is in David’s line, guess what? Guess who comes further down the line? That is right, Jesus. She is part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. That kind of blows me away.
She was faced with a problem and decided to put her trust in the Lord, to put her life in the hands of God. And look what happened.
Finally, once we come to Christ, our pasts no longer matter. The slate is wiped clean for all who believe and accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross on our behalf. Rahab was no longer viewed as an unclean prostitute, but as one worthy by grace to be part of the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as she was grafted into the line of Christ, so we become children of God and partakers in His inheritance (). We find in the life of Rahab the inspiring story of all sinners who have been saved by grace. In her story, we learn of the amazing grace of God that can save even the worst of sinners and bring them into an abundant life in Christ Jesus.
Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary v. The Spies Return (2:22–24)
For the Christian, Rahab’s faith provides a model of one who believes in God’s historic acts of redemption (whether the exodus of the Old Testament or the cross of the New Testament). Not only does she believe, but she confirms her faith and then acts upon it to preserve God’s people and to advance God’s kingdom
God can use Rahab’s story to show what He can work through anyone who is available to Him. But Rahab was also a hero. That is right, a hero. Why? Rahab recognized who God was, His Power etc.
But Rahab was also a hero. That is right, a hero. Why?
But Rahab was also a hero. That is right, a hero. Why?
Rahab recognized who God was, His Power etc.
Rahab heard and believed. She submitted herself to the Lord and God did great things through her.
She submitted herself to the Lord
I began talking about my friend Jimmy this morning. He wasn’t a spiritual giant, but he was someone who cared about kids, protected them, gave them good clean fun things to do. He made himself available to some kids to keep them out of trouble and to be a little bit of a role model. He didn’t preach to us. He just lived his life fearing the Lord and that made an impression on us.
1 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. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 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.” 4 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. 5 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.” 6 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. 7 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.
I tell you that again, because your life means something. Your decisions, your actions, all that you do has an impact on the world around you. What kind of impact are you making?
Do you, like Rahab believe in who God is? If so, make bold decisions for God. Do bold things that you know are right because you look to the Lord to be the only true God.