Josué 2

Josué 2

Wiersbe - Bible Personalities - Because of her faith, Rahab was part of the ancestry of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5), was named in the faith “Hall of Fame” (Heb. 11:31), and was used by James as an example of faith leading to good works (James 2:25). Her spiritual experience was like that of the believers in Thessalonica. For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God (1Th 1:9+) Moses had sent twelve spies into Canaan and only two of them, Caleb and Joshua, had faith to believe God could give Israel the land (Num. 13). Perhaps that is why Joshua sent only two spies into Canaan! Rahab’s faith possessed her entire personality. She had fear because she heard how Israel’s God had delivered the Jews from Egypt and destroyed the Gentile nations. She knew enough facts about God to want to trust him. “I know that the LORD has given you the land” (Josh. 2:9). She willingly confessed her faith in the living God and proved her faith by her works. Alas, many people hear the Word and tremble but never act upon what they know. Even demons can do that (James 2:19+ - ED: RAHAB TREMBLED AND BELIEVED - THE DEMONS BELIEVE AND TREMBLE)! In one of his early sermons (1857 - Rahab's Faith), Charles Haddon Spurgeon described Rahab’s faith in an alliterated outline, something unusual for him. Her faith was: saving faith singular faith—she alone was delivered with her family stable faith—nothing moved her self-denying faith—“She dared to risk her life for the sake of the spies” sympathizing faith—she wanted mercy for her family as well sanctifying faith—she never returned to being a harlot In a later sermon focusing on the scarlet cord from the window (Josh. 2:17–21), Spurgeon saw Rahab as an example of a true believer. She had obedient faith and immediately tied the cord from the window. She believed the promise that the spies made to her and proved her faith by her works. She made an open declaration of her faith. Her whole house was dedicated to the Lord. (Joshua 2:21 The Scarlet Line in the Window) In a third sermon, Spurgeon amplified the uniqueness of Rahab’s faith. She was not in a believing nation, her parents had given her no instructions, and her knowledge of the true God was very slender. What she had to believe was very difficult—that the Jordan River would open up so the Israelites could cross (ED: LIKE GOD DID WITH THE RED SEA - Joshua 2:10), and that the strong city of Jericho would fall. However, Spurgeon believed that as great as her faith was, it was still flawed because she lied to the men who asked about her visitors. “But at the same time, please to recollect that she did not know that it was wrong to lie.” (Rahab) John Newton had a similarly remarkable conversion. Losing his mother when he was 7 years old, he went to sea at the age of 11. “I went to Africa,” he said, “that I might be free to sin to my heart’s content.” And that he did! During the next few years, Newton’s soul was seared by the most revolting of all human experiences. He fell into the pitless clutches of the press-gang. Later, as a deserter from the navy, he was flogged until the blood streamed down his back. He became involved in the unspeakable atrocities of the African slave trade. And then, going from bad to worse, he actually became a slave himself. He was sold to a woman slave who, glorying in her power over him, made him depend for his food upon the crusts she tossed under her table. In the epitaph that he composed for himself, Newton said that he was “the slave of slaves.” And then it happened! In 1748, on board a ship about to founder in the grips of a storm, the Lord came from on high and delivered him out of deep waters. When the ship went plunging down into the trough of the seas, few on board expected her to come up again. As Newton hurried to the pumps, he said to the Captain, “If this will not do, the Lord have mercy upon us!” His own words startled him. “Mercy!” He said to himself in astonishment. “Mercy! Mercy!” On the 10th of March, 1748, Newton sought mercy, and found it!” Joshua 2:11 Ready To Believe The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. —Joshua 2:11 Today's Scripture: Joshua 2:1-14 The story of Rahab, a harlot in Jericho, is puzzling. She welcomed the spies from Israel, hid them on her roof, and helped them escape. Then her own life was spared and she was honored by becoming part of the family line of the Messiah (Mt. 1:5). Why did God choose her? I found some insights about Rahab in a prayer letter from Mary Tapley, who works with Campus Crusade for Christ. Mary wrote, “She proved to be a woman that God had completely prepared to put her faith in Him. She was already convinced of His existence and knew of His character (Josh. 2:11). When the spies came to her house, she immediately allied herself with God.” In her letter, Mary then told about witnessing to her new friend, Bliss. When she first talked with her about Jesus, Mary moved cautiously, not wanting to scare her away. But Bliss was ready, and before that initial conversation was over she asked Mary, “Will you teach me how to become a Christian?” In a few moments she was on her knees, asking Jesus to forgive her sins and become her Savior. Take control of my words today, May they tell of Your great love; And may the story of Your grace Turn some heart to You above. —Sees You can never speak to the wrong person about Christ. Joshua 2:11 One Option We Don't Have The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. — Joshua 2:11 Today's Scripture: Joshua 2:1-14 James A. Meads Jr. began his sermon with this statement: “The reason you and I cannot ignore God can be stated in one word: Israel. No other nation has been known as a ‘chosen people.’ No other nation has as much to say about the love, the patience, and the anger of God. Through Israel, God has given the world an object lesson about His nature.” Centuries ago, Jericho’s king might have said, “Israel is coming—so what!” But we read that when he and his people heard what God had done at the Red Sea, and that two Amorite kings had been destroyed, the hearts of the people “melted” (Joshua 2:10-11). Jericho’s king had at least two options, however. He could flee for his life, or he could repent, believe in God, and plead for His mercy. That’s what Rahab did, and she and her family were spared (vv.12-13). But the one option the king didn’t have was to ignore Israel, and therefore he couldn’t ignore God. We can't ignore God's only Son, He is the Lord, the Holy One; He is the source of life and grace, The One who died and took our place. —Fitzhugh Everyone must face God as Savior or as Judge. Storytime - Joe Stowell - Did you ever wonder why Rahab, the prostitute who lived in the pagan city of Jericho, opened her home to the Israelite spies? And what gave her the courage to name the God of Israel as her own? This unlikeliest of conversions was prompted by the stories she had heard about the reality and power of God. Though thoroughly steeped in paganism and immorality, her heart was drawn to God. As she told the spies, “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” (Josh. 2:10). Under normal circumstances, the highly fortified city of Jericho would have been virtually unconquerable. Yet it became vulnerable because of the compelling stories of God’s power. Long before God’s people arrived, the self-sufficient pride of this hostile culture dissolved in fear when faced with those who belonged to the God they had heard so much about (v.11). And within the walls, one pagan heart turned to receive the God of Israel and played a strategic role in Israel’s stunning victory. Christ is coming, over the world victorious— Power and glory unto the Lord belong: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness! Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song. —Crosby Don’t be shy; tell the stories of God’s greatness. George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 2 11. And as soon as we had heard these things, our heart did melt. Heb. ונשמע וימס לבבנו vannishma vayimmas levâvënu, and we heard, and our heart did melt; spoken as if the whole nation were one person, having one heart. The original word for ‘melt,’ though not precisely the same with that in v. 9, is yet of kindred import, the metaphor being taken from the melting of metals before the fire. Neither did there remain any more courage in any man. Heb. ולא קמה עוד רוח באיש velo kâmâh ōd ruah bâish, neither any more stood there up spirit in any man. That is, no man’s spirit was erect within him; every one’s courage failed, and he became cowering and faint-hearted. Because of you. Heb. מפניכם mippenëkem, from before you; i. e. by reason of your presence; a frequent idiom of the Hebrew. He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. As much as to say, ‘The Lord your God is both omnipotent and omnipresent;’ a remarkable confession considering the previous ignorance and darkness of her mind. It was at once an acknowledgment of the true God, and a condemnation of the false gods and idolatrous worship of her countrymen, and showed a supernatural influence of God upon her soul. He can cause the rays of truth to penetrate the thickest shades of that moral midnight which broods over the minds of the unenlightened heathen, though we have no evidence that he ever does this, except in connexion with some kind of external instrumentality. Joshua 2:12 "Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father's household, and give me a pledge of truth, swear: Jos 9:15,18-20 1Sa 20:14,15,17 30:15 2Ch 36:13 Jer 12:16 will: 1Sa 20:14-17 24:21,22 Es 8:6 2Ti 1:16-18 Jas 2:13 my father's household: Jos 2:13 Ge 24:3,9 Ro 1:31 1Ti 5:8 give me a pledge of truth: Jos 2:18 Ex 12:13 Eze 9:4-6 Mk 14:44 Joshua 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:27-29+ (GOD CHOOSES A HARLOT) but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. RAHAB REQUESTS RECIPROCAL KINDNESS & AN OATH Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD - KJV has "Now therefore I pray you swear." Notice she invokes the Name Yahweh as "Witness" of the oath she is requesting from the spies. It is also notable that in her lengthy evening discourse (Joshua 2:8-13) on the roof this is Rahab's fourth mention of the Name LORD (Yahweh, Jehovah). Utley on “swear to me by the LORD” The VERB (Niphal IMPERATIVE) is common in Deuteronomy and Joshua. - God swears, Joshua 1:6; 5:6 (twice); 21:43, 44, His people swear, Joshua 2:12, 17, 20; 6:22, 26; 9:15, 18, 19, 20; 14:9 but do not swear by their gods, Joshua 23:7. Since I have dealt kindly (hesed) with you, that you also will deal kindly (hesed) with my father's household - Rahab requests reciprocal kindness (hesed) from the two spies - hesed for hesed! She is pleading for "covenant mercy." Dealt kindly...deal kindly is hesed, a covenant term (here used by a pagan harlot!!!), which is apropos for she had in effect entered into the Abrahamic Covenant by grace through faith. Rahab's dealing kindly with the spies did not merit her salvation, but was evidence of her salvation. Faith alone saves but the faith that saves is not alone. As James 2:25+ says "was not Rahab the harlot also justified (SHOWN TO BE JUSTIFIED) by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way (THAT IS, WHEN SHE DEALT KINDLY WITH THEM)." Notice she does not say "that you also will deal kindly with ME," but with my father's household demonstrating her incredible unselfishness! She reminds me of Paul's words in Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." While the circumstances are not identical, Rahab's response to God and her desire for assurance in asking for an oath reminds me of another women, Ruth the Moabitess who declared to her Jewish mother in law Naomi... Ruth 1:16-17+ “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” And give me a pledge ('oth) of truth - NET = "Give me a solemn pledge." KJV = "Give me a true token." NLT = "Give me some guarantee that..." ESV = "Give me a sure sign." Campbell on kindly (hesed) - Found about 250 times in the Old Testament, hesed means loyal, steadfast, or faithful love based on a promise, agreement, or covenant. Sometimes the word is used of God’s covenant-love for His people and sometimes, as here, of relationships on the human level. Rahab’s request was that the spies make a ḥeseḏ agreement with her and her father’s family, just as she had made a ḥeseḏ agreement with them by sparing their lives. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament or Here) I once was an outcast Stranger on earth A sinner by choice And an alien by birth But I’ve been adopted My name’s written down I’m an heir to a mansion A Robe and a Crown I’m a Child of the King Kindly (02617) hesed/chesed/heced is the idea of faithful love in action and often in the OT refers to God's lovingkindness expressed in His covenant relationship with Israel. Vine writes that "In general, one may identify three basic meanings of hesed, and these 3 meanings always interact -- strength, steadfastness, and love. Any understanding of hesed that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. Love by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet strength or steadfastness suggests only the fulfillment of a legal (or similar) obligation. Hesed refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Jehovah and Israel). But hesed is not only a matter of obligation but is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. Hesed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law." Hesed is used in Joshua 2:12 and Joshua 2:14. Pledge (0226) 'oth means a signal, a mark or a miracle used to describe amazing events such as God bringing Israel out of Egypt (Ex 4:8, 9, Nu 14:22). A sign serving to authenticate the message as from God (1Sa 2:34, 10:7, 9). A sign given to Moses by God to show he was sent by God ( Ex 3:12; 4:8-9) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 2 12. Swear unto me by the Lord. This proposal still further displays the sincerity and the strength of her faith. While the people of Israel, with the miracles of the Divine power constantly before their eyes, were incessantly prone to stagger at the promises and give way to unbelief, she, upon the mere hearsay report of these wonders, is so firmly persuaded of their truth, that she desires to enter covenant with the spies for her own preservation and that of her family. Though they were now in perilous circumstances, shut up within the walls of Jericho, and surrounded by enemies, yet she treats with them as if they had already stormed the city, and had the power of life and death in their hands. So earnest is she in this matter, that she would have them ratify by an oath their agreement to save her. In like manner, a deep-rooted conviction of the danger hanging over the head of the sinner from the curse of a violated law, will prompt him to give all diligence to flee from the wrath to come and lay hold on eternal life, by joining himself to God and his people. Have Showed you kindness, Heb. עשיתי עמכם חסד âsithi immâkem hesed, have done you kindness; and so in the next clause, ‘That ye will also do kindness,’ &c. Give me a true token. Heb. אות אמת ōth ëmeth, a sign or token of truth, well rendered according to the sense; ‘a true token,’ i. e. a token which shall not deceive me; one which I may produce as a witness of this agreement; one on the sight of which the Israelites shall forbear to hurt either me or mine. Joshua 2:13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death." Joshua 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries RAHAB'S INTERCESSION FOR MERCY ON HER FAMILY And - Rahab continues her request of the two spies. Spare (KJV more literal = will save alive) my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver (natsal) our lives (lit - souls) from death - Rahab specifies the conditions of the oath were to include sparing her immediate family. While primarily she is referring to physical salvation, one cannot exclude that she also sought their spiritual salvation. But how would they have been saved? It would have been the same way that Rahab was saved which was by faith (cf same with Abraham - Ge 15:6). Note that in Joshua 2:18 it reads that Rahab was to "gather to yourself into the house" your relatives. The relatives had to make a choice based on faith in Rahab's "good news" to come together in her house. They were saved by faith.