Text: Joshua 2

Theme: God often working things out before we even get there.

Intro:

  1. In the previous chapter, the Israelites learned that Joshua was their new leader and that God had commanded him to lead the nation into the promised land.
  2. In this chapter, Joshua is preparing to take the nation into the land and begin conquering the inhabitants. In the beginning of his preparations, he sends two spies into the land to view it.

I. The Spies Hidden in Jericho (Vs 1-7)

A. The spies mission in Jericho

  1. Before leading the whole Israelite army over Jordan, Joshua would want to know what sort of terrain they would be crossing. He would need to know where the main roads were and how best to approach the city of Jericho.
  2. Joshua needed information about the land they were entering in order to begin planning where they would camp, and where they would obtain fresh water from, and so much more.
  3. When God moves us forward into new areas of ministry, it is wise to scout out the path ahead. With the outreach ministry, we looked at the areas around the church and did some research into the number of houses in the area. These things help us plan and be prepared to move forward.

B. The spies target of Jericho

  1. From the Biblical account we know that Jericho was a walled city, and that there were houses built on the wall of the city, meaning it was very substantial wall
  2. Here in a city full of pagans, God had prepared someone’s heart, a harlot no less, who believed in God and would choose to join God’s people, Israel, rather than continue living in sin.
  3. God is still at work today in preparing the hearts of lost souls to receive the Gospel message and accept Christ as their Saviour. To put the world behind them and chose to be one of God’s people.
  4. Rahab didn’t help these men just in case things went south in the city of Jericho. She wasn’t just hedging her bets. If Rahab had been caught in the lie she told and in hiding the men, then she would certainly be put to death as a traitor.

II. The Spies Covenant in Jericho (Vs 8-14)

A. The spies encounter with Rahab

  1. Rahab knew that the nation of Israel was planning to conquer Jericho, and she wanted to guarantee the safety of her family.
  2. Rahab testified that she knew of the God of Israel, and of His promise to give the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. Rahab also noted that the whole country was terrified because of the children of Israel.
  3. Rahab genuinely believe that God was going to give the city of Jericho into the hands of the Israelites, and so she put her trust in God and sides with God’s people.
  4. This is where we begin to see the picture of our salvation coming through the account. Like Rahab, we need to recognise that our salvation comes only from God. Trusting in men to provide us with deliverance is foolish.

B. The spies leave Jericho

  1. No doubt, the spies realised how close they had been to being discovered, and rather than hanging around they left straight away.
  2. The spies had made a covenant to spare Rahab, but now they needed a way to ensure that was possible.
  3. They came up with the idea that Rahab would bind the scarlet material in the window so that, when the Israelites attacked the city, they would know which house Rahab was in.

III. The Spies Return from Jericho (Vs 22-24)

A. The spies report to Joshua

  1. The pursuers would have expected the spies to head straight for the Jordan river and the safety of camp on the other side, but instead, the spies went up into the Judean mountains and hid there.
  2. The pursuers were unable to locate the spies and so they returned to Jericho.

B. The spies encouraged Joshua

  1. When the spies told Joshua their account of what they had seen and heard, Joshua and the people were encouraged by it.
  2. Ultimately it was God who they were afraid of but, since the children of Israel worshiped the one true God and were His chosen people, the Canaanites were afraid of the children of Israel too.
  3. God wants to use His people to proclaim the goodness and severity of God.

Conclusion:

  1. God is able to prepare the way before us and to prepare people’s hearts to receive the Gospel.
  2. God is able to provide rescue from eternal destruction for us through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.