AN UNUSUAL ALLY
Joshua 2.1-24
S: Salvation for ALL
C: Purpose of the Community
Th: A People with Purpose
Pr: GOD DESIRES TO WORK HIS GRACE IN ALL SITUATIONS.
TS: We will find in our study of Joshua 2 how God uses the unexpected to show His grace.
Type: Narrative
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• God is gracing our community.
• God desires to demonstrate grace through our community of believers.
• God wants to show His grace to you.
Version: ESV
RMBC 11 June 06 AM
INTRODUCTION:
ILL Secret: why does it have to be?
A mother was showing her son how to zip up his coat. “The secret,” she said, “is to get the left part of the zipper to fit in the other side before you try to zip it up.”
The boy looked at her quizzically... “Why does it have to be a secret?”
We are talking about spies and secrets today.
So…
1. How are you when it comes to keeping secrets?
ILL Secret: Lunch on the Bank (revised)
I was out fishing in a rowboat with two of our deacons, Sam and Bill. It was getting to be about noon and Sam noticed a nice spot on the bank to have lunch. He turned to Bill and me and said, “That looks like a nice spot for lunch. What do you say we have lunch over there?”
Bill agreed, and so did I. So Sam stood up in the boat, stepped out onto the river and walked over to the bank. I mean, I looked on with amazement, and thought to myself, if Sam is holy enough to walk on water, surely I can.
Then Bill stood up, picked up the picnic basket, stepped out of the boat, and walked over to the bank and sat with Sam. Again, in amazement, I thought, if Bill is holy enough to walk on water, surely I can.
So, I stood up, stepped out of the boat, and sank right into the water.
As I was floundering in the water, Sam turned to Bill and said, “Think we should have told him where the rocks are?”
Well, to keep a secret, you need to be able to keep your cool.
In today’s study, we are introduced, anonymously, to some spies that are sent out to inspect the Promised Land.
First, let us remember our study last week, when we were in the first chapter of Joshua.
2. Joshua knows his assignment.
Moses has died, and now he is in charge.
He has not become the leader in charge by some political process.
He has not become the leader by a popularity vote.
He has become the leader because God has chosen him to be so.
And now, he has received his instructions.
He is to be strong and courageous.
And He is to take the land that has been given to them.
He is to get going.
He is to get busy.
But there are some surprises in store.
For…
3. We will find in our study of Joshua 2 how God uses the unexpected to show His grace.
OUR STUDY:
First, let’s note that…
4. Joshua desired a scouting report (1).
And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho."
We don’t know if this desire of Joshua is from God or not, but Joshua wants to get more information.
He wants to be a wise general and know what he is facing.
He wants to know the enemy and get their defenses examined.
So, from Shittim, which was several miles from Jericho, across the Jordan, two spies make their way to Jericho.
I am sure that Joshua selected these men very carefully, for we can be sure he did not want the mistakes of the past repeated.
He wanted a believing report, not an unbelieving one.
So, making it to Jericho…
5. The spies have unexpected lodging (1).
And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
Did you hear that?
Wait a second…
Why go there?
Why go to a house of prostitution?
Doesn’t this look bad?
Isn’t this bad?
But it appears this was to be their modus operandi [op-er-on-die].
For their base of operations, in order to look like harmless visitors, they found a house that provided lodging and…well…other services.
And on the outside, it looked like a great plan.
But…
6. The great hideout turns out not to be so great (2).
And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."
It sounded like a clever plan, but their presence is soon discovered.
The king’s henchmen come to Rahab’s doors and ask her to produce the intruders.
It was too natural.
It seems to be that Rahab’s house is the first place that they look, not the last.
But then she did a terribly risky thing…
7. Rahab lies (3-7).
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.
Though she has them up on the roof, daringly, she sends the king’s men toward the river.
So, off on the wild goose chase they go.
The question through the ages is whether we could characterize Rahab’s actions as…
7.1 Sin?
One can argue this that at this point, Rahab’s faith is minimal.
She is not at a point that she is able to trust God, and understand His protection.
Correspondingly, nowhere in the Bible is her lie defended.
Her faith is commended.
Her works are noted as a response to her faith.
But the lie is never recommended.
But perhaps it is…
7.2 Not Sin?
We should note as well, the author of the text offers no judgment on the act.
He has not problem with it.
He simply reports the facts.
Perhaps it is not sin because this is no longer a situation of peace.
This is war!
And the rules of war tell you that you don’t tell the truth in war.
It is why spies hide.
It is why spies keep secrets.
The strategy is to deceive and gain advantage.
It is not unlike the situations certain German and Dutch families experienced in World War II when they were hiding Jews.
I do not propose a definitive answer to this long standing controversy, simply because it is not the point of the story.
But, we do want to acknowledge that Rahab does put her life on the line.
If her deception would have been found out, she certainly would have been killed for this betrayal.
And now, we find the reason why…
8. Rahab communicates faith (8-13).
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.”
Note how she starts this conversation.
She begins with conviction: “I know…”
Her profession of prostitution has caused her to hear a lot of what has been going on outside the walls of Jericho.
She would have heard plenty of gossip from the men who frequented her establishment.
“Have you heard what happened in Egypt?”
“Did you hear what happened at the Red Sea?”
“Did you hear what the Israelites did to the Amorites?”
“They are still around, close by…”
Rahab had heard enough.
She understood the cause and effect.
The Israelites’ God was the real God.
She knows.
She even uses the covenant name – the LORD (Yahweh) to convince them of her sincerity.
Jericho knows too.
They know that neighboring peoples have been wiped out and cities have bee leveled.
And they are melting in fear.
Their inner resolve and self-confidence is long gone.
Rahab’s reaction is different.
She isn’t gripped by fear.
Instead, she believes.
She confesses in her belief in God’s sovereignty.
So, correspondingly, she begs for safety.
And…
9. A covenant is made (14-21).
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.
It’s a deal.
They make promises to each other,
And protection is offered by the spies for the protection they are now receiving.
A sure sign was described.
It was unmistakable…
…a scarlet cord that was to be hung in the window.
It would be a sign of protection.
It would be a sign of salvation.
So…
10. A sign of salvation is communicated (18).
Hear their instructions…
“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.”
Salvation and protection is given to a prostitute.
Think about that for a moment.
I mean…
Couldn’t God have used someone else to save the spies?
Couldn’t God have picked someone less controversial?
Less defiled?
Less dirty?
Why use someone with such flagrant impurities to carry out His plans?
It is at this point that we get to see what the real story is behind the story.
Joshua didn’t really need the information about Jericho.
It was already his to take.
But what was needed was the salvation Rahab and her family.
So the scarlet cord…just like the blood over the door at Passover…representing the future, perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus…that scarlet cord would be the sign.
These, inside this house, would be protected from death and destruction.
So…
11. The spies return knowing that God has gone before them (22-24).
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."
Joshua could have great confidence.
God had said go.
The people agreed to go.
And the Canaanites were scared that they were coming.
Finally, one that needed to be saved was now ready to receive it.
APPLICATION:
ILL Grace
A man dies. Of course, Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates.
Peter says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and I give you the correct amount of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.”
“Okay,” the man says confidently, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.”
“That’s wonderful,” says Peter, “that’s worth three points!”
“Three points?” he says. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.”
“Terrific!” says Peter. “That’s certainly worth a point.”
“One point!?!! I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.”
“Fantastic, that’s good for two more points,” he says.
“Two points!?!!” Exasperated, the man cries, “At this rate it’ll just be by the grace of God that I ever get into heaven.”
“Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!”
This what I see in the story of Rahab – the grace of God.
God desires to work His grace in all situations.
There was a lot was working against Rahab.
After all, she was a Canannite, hated by every culture and nation that surrounded them.
Egyptians and Hittites were against them.
She was part of a degenerate and debased religion that was known for sacrificing their children.
She was also a woman, and in every way, they were second-class citizens during that day.
They were viewed as sex objects and baby-makers.
They were property, not equals.
To make it worse, she was a prostitute.
She was a marginalized member of society.
…easily used;
…easily forgotten.
But for us today, she is a paradigm of hope.
Her example tells us that our old corrupt ways can be given up.
She shows us that we can move from a kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
She had heard the truth about God and His people.
She saw that God was saving them powerfully.
Even though her fellow city-dwellers heard the same news, she responded differently.
She was open to the truth.
And, she was willing to make a difficult choice and takes the risk.
She will join this new family of people, so to believe in this God and live with His people.
Interestingly, this flagrant sinner would become the mother of Boaz, who would be the husband of Ruth.
But not only that, Rahab would become the Great-great grandmother of David and direct ancestor of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
What a wonderful story of grace this is!
But it is the story, not of Rahab, but of God.
For God desires to work His grace in all situations.
He works through very ordinary and unlikely people.
He renews the guilty, the broken, and the hopeless.
And as Paul said in I Corinthians, “And such were some of you…”
Joshua thought he was checking out the Jericho defenses, but God had another perspective.
God understood that someone needed grace.
Someone had faith.
And it was a lesson to His people, that in the midst of conquest and the removal of a sinful culture, don’t ever forget to be merciful and save.
Be alert to this fact this morning…
God desires to work His grace in all situations.
God is showing grace!
12. God is showing grace to the Randall community.
I think the beginning of the Building Committee is an excellent example of this.
I believe wholeheartedly that God wants us to be excellent stewards of our building.
I believe wholeheartedly that He wants our building to be welcoming and accessible to all people.
And though, as I have warned last week, changes in such things will not necessarily make our hearts more evangelistic, more spiritually mature, or more worshipful, God is gracing us with the opportunity to be more effective in these areas.
I believe this is so because…
13. God desires to show grace through the Randall community.
God has a vital role for our community.
He calls on us to be missional – a people on the go with a mission to speak and live the word of God.
He calls on us to be incarnational – showing Christ wherever we are.
He calls on us to be a healing community – to be His instruments of care and compassion.
ILL Love: doll
There is a story about a little girl who had a large collection of dolls, of every description. It was obvious that her dolls brought her much pleasure. A visitor asked her which of her dolls was her favorite.
"Just a moment," she said as she rushed into another room.
In a moment she was back with a doll that would have been rejected by Goodwill. One of the eyes was off, the cloth hair was hanging by a single thread, the dress was worn and dirty, one shoe was missing.
The visitor was surprised. "Why do you love this doll so much?" she asked.
The little girl answered shyly, "Because if I didn’t, nobody else would."
Wherever we go, we are to show the grace and love of Jesus.
Finally…
14. God longs to give His grace to you.
If you have never done so, I want to encourage you to take the step of faith that Rahab did.
She received the grace of God.
She took the risk to receive it, by letting go of the gods of her own culture and her own making and believing in the power of God.
The same can be true of you today as well.
You can experience God’s grace – even at this very moment.
You can have a relationship with Jesus will never, ever end.
ILL Victory in Jesus
O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him –
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood.
Prayer…
Lord, I recognize that You are the Creator God of the universe;
And I recognize, like Rahab, I too am a sinner in need of Your compassion and grace;
Dear Jesus, please take me as your child and be my Savior and Lord, so that I might be known as a committed and faithful follower of Yours;
And so that I might enjoy the precious gift of eternal life.
Amen.
Encourage those that pray to come to our prayer partners in the front or tell me as You go out this morning.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Ephesians 3:16-21
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
RESOURCES:
SermonCentral
Cook, Pat All Sold Out
Fenter, Jerry Ordinary People
Goins, Doug An Unlikely Ancestor
Grant, Steven Simala Trust, But Still Do Your Homework
Books:
Boice, James Montgomery. Joshua: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989.
Campbell, Donald K. No Time for Neutrality. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1981.
Creach, Jerome F. D. Joshua Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, ed. James L. Mays. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2003.
Goslinga, C. J. Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Translated by Ray Togtman. Bible Student’s Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Regency Reference Library, 1986.
