Time to Take Sides

1. Time to Take Sides Joshua 2:1-24 ICEL 3 August 2008

2. 1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab, “Bring out the men who came to you, because they have come to spy out the whole land. Scripture text: Joshua 2:1-14 (1)

3. 4 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. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) Scripture text: Joshua 2:1-14 (2)

4. 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 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. Scripture text: Joshua 2:1-14 (3)

5. 10 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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts sank and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 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 Scripture text: Joshua 2:1-14 (4)

6. 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death.” 14 “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.” Scripture text: Joshua 2:1-14 (5)

7. The spies needed protection. Rahab needed protection. Israel needed to take the land! Dangerous Times

8. God provides for the spies through a prostitute! They need intelligence and shelter. So they go to a local inn, where they meet a prostitute. The spies are discovered, and their hideout is revealed! The prostitute hides and advises the spies. God’s Provision

9. God provides for a prostitute through spies! God is about to destroy Jericho. Rahab needs someone to protect her. She makes a covenant with members of the approaching army. A scarlet rope allows both the spies and Rahab’s family to escape. God’s Provision

10. God had been at work for forty years. The people of Jericho knew about Israel’s victories over Egypt, Moab, and Edom. Joshua hears that he was right. God’s Provision “When we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea… our hearts sank and everyone’s courage failed because of you…”

11. The spies went into the city. Rahab converted to the God of Israel. She recognized what God was doing in her day. She hid the spies and sided with Israel (Jos. 6:25). She was considered one of the obedient (Heb. 11:31). The Obedient Walk by Faith

12. 20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. Scripture text: Joshua 6:20-21, 24-25 (1)

13. 24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 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. Scripture text: Joshua 6:20-21, 24-25 (2)

14. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. Scripture text: Hebrews 11:31 and Matthew 1:1, 5-6

15. God’s will is that none should perish. But the king of Jericho and his people died. Their fear hardened them to rebellion against God. We are God’s enemies until we repent of our sins. God accepts those who turn to Him. A scarlet rope saved Rahab and her household. The cross saves those who turn to Christ. It’s Time to Take Sides

16. It’s time to take sides. Choose which side you’re on. Perhaps you’ve already chosen to stand with God’s people. Now what? Walk by faith to accomplish spiritual goals. Expect that God will provide in a most unusual way. Recognize that God is already at work—working in the background. Work out your salvation “with fear and trembling.” What to Do