Joshua Chapter 2

Men's Group Study Guide

STUDY NOTES: verses 1-24

v.1a Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho. Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly: Go, view the land, especially Jericho” If you remember from our study last week Joshua is a type of Jesus Christ and just as Joshua in this case sent spies or soon to be witnesses. Jesus sent his spies or witnesses out into hostile territory. If we want to understand true power in our walks that is being baptized by the Holy Spirit then we need to be witnesses for Jesus Acts 1:8, states But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” If you want to see the power of the Holy Spirit in your life to see a dynamic change in your attitude towards people and ministry being a witness is the key for this.

v.1b So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. There are some that have been embarrassed that these two spies would go to a harlot’s house to stay for the night. But it makes sense if they are spying to hide in an area where there would be a lot of people coming in and out. It would be very easy to stay lost in the crowd.

v. 2-7 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.” Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. There are those who would find difficulty with Rahab lying to protect the two spies. But the O.T. is very clear about reporting the things that happened even if they would not paint a very good light on our heroine for protecting the spies. But it is fascinating that when you study what the Lord says about all the heros of the faith in the O.T. we never see there sin. God chooses to only remember the good things that they did. And so for us there is a comfort in this knowing that if we are covered by the blood of the Lamb. God chooses not to see our sins, but to see us as we will be, clothed in Christ’s righteousness perfect and without blemish.

v. 8-14 Now before they 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, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” We see in our text here Rahab’s confession of faith. Rahab was a Gentile living in a degenerating society and yet she had a fear of God v.8knew the facts about God v.10-11 and had faith in God v11-13. It is interesting that Rahab made it into God’s hall of fame for Faith. Heb 11-31 talks of how Rahab welcomed the spies and was not destroyed with those who were disobedient. Rahab, a harlot living in the society that was completely sold out to sin, found God and was saved.

Vs 15-21 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.” So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.” Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. Here we see the scarlet thread or cord. Throughout scripture we will see this reoccurring theme of salvation. This cord is parallel to the Passover. When the Jews were ready to leave they had to smear lambs blood on the two doorposts the lentil and the threshold. If you were to connect these with a line you would have a picture of the cross. The angel of death would pass over the households that were covered by the blood of the lamb. It is also very interesting that harlots in this time period would mark there houses by painting the window sill red. From the outside you would also see a red cross. And yet there is still more here. Flax was used to make rope in this time period. We have seen this word before. v. 6. Flax also is used to make linen. The high priest wore a linen robe. So we have here a beautiful picture of what are high priest did for us. For no matter what back ground we come from whether we have played the harlot or have been the spies or have been a high priest we still have to be covered by the blood of our high priest Jesus Christ. We are truly saved by the blood of the lamb redeemed for just who I am. We are saved in the spiritual household of God. There is also a warning in here. For just as Joshua was the savior of Rahab and the judge of Jericho, Jesus Christ is the savior of anyone who puts their trust in him. But also be warned that he will Judge those who do not have a saving knowledge of him.

Vs. 22-24 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.” Ultimately militarily this did not help the Israelites at all but it did strengthen their faith and having a strong faith in the one true God will always give you the battle no matter what is going on.

TRUTH APPLIED:

Q. 1 As we see in Acts we are sent out to be witnesses for Jesus. What are some practical steps to help you be a witness in your area of influence?

Q. 2 Do we make an active try to reach people that we would think are beyond God? Do we try to initiate discussions with the non believers in our work areas, golf buddies etc.

CONCLUSION:

Just like Rahab we have all played the harlot at one time or another. But that is not the end of the story. Rahab married an Israelite named Solomon. His Father was named Nashon Nu 7:12 Matt records in the Jesus Christ’s genealogy that Rahab was the Great Great Grand mother of King David. God ultimately took a harlot and married her to a prince of Judah. You know I like that. Because just like Rahab we have all played the Harlot. But now, we are the Bride of the Prince Judah, the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ.