Promise Land Living: The Scarlet Thread of Second Chances: Josh. 2

I. Joshua’s Second Chance vs. 1a

A. In Numbers 13, Moses sent out 12 spies. However only 2 believed Yahweh’s promise. So Joshua and Caleb reported back that God would see them through. Num. 13:25-33

Numbers 13:25–33 NASB95

When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. “Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. “Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.” Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

B. Joshua learned that too many opinions will kill a movement of God, so he chose only 2 spies.

C. Instead of taking all of Canaan, Joshua only dealt with Jericho. Smaller targets, bigger more victories.

II. Rahab’s Second Chance vs. 1b-24

A. Rahab was a prostitute. Yet she had more faith than the 10 wicked spies 40 years ago.

B. Faith will grow in the least places, and least likely people.

C. Some condemn Rahab for lying, but they’ve never been in a similar situation. Also, she’s a prostitute at a cat house, quit picking at someone and look at their faith budding. There is a time and a place for correction, just be mindful.

D. God had been working in Jericho, before the “spies” got there. God goes before us, when we don’t see it.

E. These spies were actually missionaries. They told her how to be saved. (Scarlet thread through the bible).

F. Rahab, would always be known as Rahab the harlot, because it shows who she was (past tense) and who Yahweh made her to be (present & future tense). Heb. 11:31

Hebrews 11:31 NASB95

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

James 2:25 NASB95

In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

Matthew 1:5 NASB95

Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.

G. Don’t you just love second chances, that God gives us.