Hideouts Can Be Found In Strange Places . . .
(Joshua 2:4, 8-9, 12, 14)
I. Concentration: on hiding out in the enemy’s camp.
1. But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.” (v.4)
2. Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.” (vv.8-9)
3. “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign . . . ” (v.12)
4. “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” (v.14)
II. Meditation: on a prostitute lies because she wants to know God.
1. Joshua sent 2 spies into Jericho who entered the house of Rahab the prostitute; she had already hidden them, lying to the king, when he told her to hand them over.
2. She went to the roof to tell the spies all of Jericho fears them - knowing about God’s miracles, His protection of them and giving them their land.
3. She asks them to swear an oath to God to protect her and her family – saving them from death – in return for the kindness she has shown by hiding them from her king.
4. They vow to protect her family with their lives, providing she doesn’t tell anyone; Rahab helps the spies escape; she promises to tie a scarlet cord out her window identifying her home (so they will save her family when they return to take the land by force).
III. Revelation: on God’s use of a house of prostitution to hide His children.
1. God chooses the house of a prostitute to send His spies into Jericho; how then can we doubt when He chooses us to perform His holy service on this earth?
2. Each day God protects us; He offers eternal life to believers; we cannot let ourselves be deterred by people who fear or despise us because we are Christians – we must continue to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ.
3. Just as God protects us each day, we are to protect and care for others – showing them kindnesses - regardless of their faith or way of life.
4. Notice how symbolic the scarlet cord identifying Rahab’s home is to the blood painted on the door posts for the angel of death to pass over in Egypt (Exodus 12:13).
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Know that I am chosen by Him to fulfill His plans through me, regardless if I think I am not the right choice – He knows I am His choice.
2. Be grateful for the safe life I have been born into where I can freely practice my faith.
3. Show kindnesses – yes; but go out of my way to find people in need that I can help.
4. Be thankful that Jesus shed His blood for my sins and that He has offered me eternal life.
Feeling Holiness With Our Feet
(Joshua 5:13 - 15)
I. Concentration: on are you for us or against us?.
1. Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” (v.13)
2. “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” (v.14)
3. The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” (v.15a)
4. And Joshua did so. (v.15b)
II. Meditation: on recognizing holiness.
1. The Israelites were celebrating Passover – a turning point where they began living from the land they were about to possess; Joshua sees a stranger before him – ready for battle with a drawn sword – he wants to know . . . is he “friend or foe”.
2. The stranger identified himself as a commander of God’s army; this caused Joshua to throw himself, humbly, to the ground and to ask how he could serve the Lord.
3. In Exodus 3:5, Moses received the exact same command at the burning bush “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”
4. Joshua - confronted with the living God as was Moses in Exodus 33:9-11 - did as he was told.
III. Revelation: on feeling the loving protection of our Savior.
1. Jesus always comes to us as we need Him – He appeared to Abraham as a traveler and in Joshua’s case as a warrior, with His sword drawn ready to defend the salvation of His people; Jesus’ presence in our lives offers protection against our enemy, Satan.
2. As Christians, Christ’s banner always surrounds and protects us; daily, we should pray to Him and ask “what do you want from me My Lord – How can I serve you today?”
3. No matter where we go on this earth – even to the darkest, scariest places – it is God’s land - He created it; therefore, it is holy and we should revere and care for it.
4. We must listen for God’s message and obey His word.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Learn how to listen for God’s message and be receptive to the messenger.
2. Be grateful that I am surrounded with God’s love and protection; look for ways to share that same love with others; remember that my own family is not always receptive to my faith, but do not let that stand in my way of bringing the Good News of Jesus to them.
3. Revere this holy land created and given to me by my Holy Father.
4. “Take off my sandals” and walk barefoot (humbly) into the places He sends me.
The Walls Came Tumbling Down. . .
(Joshua 6:9, 20, 25, 26a)
I. Concentration: on gathering the army and sounding the alarm.
1. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. (v.9)
2. When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. (v.20)
3. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho – and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (v.25)
4. At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho . . .” (v.26a)
II. Meditation: on destroying the enemy.
1. The Lord delivered Jericho into Joshua’s hands and gave him specific instructions to be followed for seven days by seven of the priests with the ark, trumpets and the army to make the wall of the city collapse before them.
2. The 7th time around on the 7th day, the trumpets sounded, the army shouted their devotion to the Lord, the wall collapsed and the city was overtaken by the Israelites.
3. Devoting the city to the Lord, they took the treasures for the Lord’s house, burned the city and destroyed every living thing except Rahab and her family who went to live with the Israelites.
4. Joshua, the Lord’s faithful servant, curses anyone who dares to rebuild Jericho.
III. Revelation: on circling the non-believers.
1. While it would be great if God announced His plans for us with trumpets and a parade, we do not know what He has in mind for us – remain open and listen for His signal.
2. We should not give up on non-believers, but keep circling them - sharing the Word of God and being good Christian role models so they desire to have what we have.
3. We see Rahab listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) which reminds us that God chooses anyone He wants to fulfill His plans, even us!
4. Ask God to fight off our enemies and give us strength to resist them.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Praise God when He signals me for service; feel blessed that He has chosen me as His vehicle, to serve for His glory.
2. Work on tearing down the walls of unbelievers so they, too, have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their savior.
3. Devote daily time to my Lord and feel blessed that He has chosen me as a messenger bringing Good News of Jesus Christ to prisoners and needy hungry people in my area.
4. Curse Satan when he tries to tear down my faith or cause any doubt in my mind.