| Joshua: Strength and Courage |
Joshua: Our Response to the
Promises of God
Promises of God
Joshua: Strength and Courage Joshua 2
Vs. 1 – This is written “after the fact” – “sent” is really “had sent,” the story is told from the perspective of looking
back at the event. This is just that, a story. Our stories matter. Think about your favorite times in your family get-
togethers – didn’t you love to hear stories from your grandfather or father or uncle about “when I was a boy”? I
heard stories of my father as a boy and it made me think “he’s not so much different than me.” I heard stories
about my grandfather, who served in the Army in World War II, and about my uncle who served in the Marines
in WW2.
The town or region of Shittim is in Moab, where Joshua had his headquarters. Moab will figure prominently at
the end of the Judges period as it is where Ruth was from, who was the wife of Boaz (who is Rahab’s son, by the
way).
Why do the spies go to a brothel? Or, at least to the house of a prostitute? There is some argument that Rahab
wasn’t necessarily a prostitute, but I think this rises from the displeasure of having an ancestor of the Christ a
“business girl.” There is a footnote in the New American Bible that says, “Harlot: this is the regular equivalent of
the Hebrew word, but perhaps it is used here of Rahab in the broader sense of a woman who kept a public
house. Joshua's spies hoped to remain undetected at such an inn.” In the second century Origen wrote: “As the
first Joshua sent his spies before him and they were received into the harlot’s house, so the second Joshua sent
his forerunners, whom the publicans and harlots gladly received”.
The point here is that the spies go here to avoid suspicion. New comers to Jericho, it might have been thought,
would natural go to Rahab’s house.
But there is more here than meets the eye. Rahab, as mentioned, is an ancestor of Jesus Christ. She is
mentioned by name in Matthew’s geneology list (Matthew 1:5). She was King David’s great-grandmother.
Vs. 2 – They went to Rahab’s house to avoid suspicion, but it turns out that they already have aroused
suspicion. The gatekeepers must have noticed that they were strangers. They then naturally assumed that they
were spies. Why? Rahab herself will answer that question in verse 9.
Vs. 3 – As it turns out, God is protecting these spies. From our perspective, that is easy to see. But to understand
this more fully, we need to put ourselves into these two spies’ shoes. It is easy for us to see that God has been
protecting them and all of Israel. However, think about your own life. Do you live each day with the knowledge
that God is protecting you and guiding you?
Vs. 4-6 – this is a hard one to understand and all-to-easy to emulate. Rahab lies. On the surface it seems to
indicate that there are times when lying is permitted by God. But is that really the case? Had Rahab told the
truth, would things have really been different? Really? The Bible simply reports Rahab’s lie; it does not praise it
or excuse it. Perhaps if she had beforehand determined in her heart to not lie in obedience to God, He would
have made a way for her to preserve the life of the spies without lying. Rahab’s lie is not justified, but it does
show courage. Consider that she was a pagan sinner in a city and culture wholly given over to the worship of
false gods and immorality, with no previous contact with the word of God or the things of God. What is your
excuse?
Vs.7 – Now it is clear to everyone that God’s promise of protection is being fulfilled. That what this (true) stories
are really all about. For us they are stories of God fulfilling His promise to His people. He made promises to us
and He will fulfill them. Even when Rahab resorts to lying (which is taking matters into her own hands) God
works good. Remember, God never sets us up to fail!
Vs. 8-11 – Rahab, an unlikely source, tells these two Israelites that God has been working at protecting and
setting the stage for the conquest of Canaan – just as He promised them in the past! It sometimes takes an
unlikely source to remind us of the love and grace of God working in our lives.
This surprising outburst of faith shows how God had a plan in bringing Rahab and the spies together. It is the
same kind of thing we see when God supernaturally brings us to people who are believers or open to the
gospel. Rahab’s declaration He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath is proof of her faith. It is not
strong faith and it is not perfect faith, but her faith is commendable nonetheless (Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:
25).
We may be appalled at the fact that Rahab was a prostitute, or that she was a liar. But the fact is that she was
not saved by her works, but by her faith. She knew who God was, she knew who she was, and she trusted God
for her very life.
Vs. 12-21 – The keeping of promises is important, as you might expect. These promises between Rahab and
the spies are one thing. But do we expect that God will keep His promises to us? Do we really intend to keep
our promises to God? Remember when you were confirmed? You promised that you would die rather than fall
away from the Christian faith – did you really mean that? Big Idea: God keeps His promises to us. Do we intend
to keep ours to Him?
The Scarlet Cord. This was the signal to the army of Israel that the people in this home were to be spared.
Despite Rahab’s desire, despite her faith, despite the promises of these spies, she would have perished unless
she put her trust in a blood red cord cast down from her window. Without the scarlet cord, she could not have
been saved. As early as the first century, commentators such as Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Ireneaus,
Origen and more saw this scarlet cord as a symbol of the blood of Jesus. And she bound the scarlet cord in the
window: Rahab immediately put her faith into both the identification and safety of the scarlet cord. She also
trusted in the ones who made the promise about the scarlet cord (according to your words, so be it). Joshua
would be a savior for Rahab, but a judge of the rest of Jericho. In the same way Jesus is a savior for those who
trust Him, but a judge for those who reject Him.
Vs. 22-24 – The two spies come back with the same report that Joshua and Caleb came back with 40 years
previously.
Vs. 1 – This is written “after the fact” – “sent” is really “had sent,” the story is told from the perspective of looking
back at the event. This is just that, a story. Our stories matter. Think about your favorite times in your family get-
togethers – didn’t you love to hear stories from your grandfather or father or uncle about “when I was a boy”? I
heard stories of my father as a boy and it made me think “he’s not so much different than me.” I heard stories
about my grandfather, who served in the Army in World War II, and about my uncle who served in the Marines
in WW2.
The town or region of Shittim is in Moab, where Joshua had his headquarters. Moab will figure prominently at
the end of the Judges period as it is where Ruth was from, who was the wife of Boaz (who is Rahab’s son, by the
way).
Why do the spies go to a brothel? Or, at least to the house of a prostitute? There is some argument that Rahab
wasn’t necessarily a prostitute, but I think this rises from the displeasure of having an ancestor of the Christ a
“business girl.” There is a footnote in the New American Bible that says, “Harlot: this is the regular equivalent of
the Hebrew word, but perhaps it is used here of Rahab in the broader sense of a woman who kept a public
house. Joshua's spies hoped to remain undetected at such an inn.” In the second century Origen wrote: “As the
first Joshua sent his spies before him and they were received into the harlot’s house, so the second Joshua sent
his forerunners, whom the publicans and harlots gladly received”.
The point here is that the spies go here to avoid suspicion. New comers to Jericho, it might have been thought,
would natural go to Rahab’s house.
But there is more here than meets the eye. Rahab, as mentioned, is an ancestor of Jesus Christ. She is
mentioned by name in Matthew’s geneology list (Matthew 1:5). She was King David’s great-grandmother.
Vs. 2 – They went to Rahab’s house to avoid suspicion, but it turns out that they already have aroused
suspicion. The gatekeepers must have noticed that they were strangers. They then naturally assumed that they
were spies. Why? Rahab herself will answer that question in verse 9.
Vs. 3 – As it turns out, God is protecting these spies. From our perspective, that is easy to see. But to understand
this more fully, we need to put ourselves into these two spies’ shoes. It is easy for us to see that God has been
protecting them and all of Israel. However, think about your own life. Do you live each day with the knowledge
that God is protecting you and guiding you?
Vs. 4-6 – this is a hard one to understand and all-to-easy to emulate. Rahab lies. On the surface it seems to
indicate that there are times when lying is permitted by God. But is that really the case? Had Rahab told the
truth, would things have really been different? Really? The Bible simply reports Rahab’s lie; it does not praise it
or excuse it. Perhaps if she had beforehand determined in her heart to not lie in obedience to God, He would
have made a way for her to preserve the life of the spies without lying. Rahab’s lie is not justified, but it does
show courage. Consider that she was a pagan sinner in a city and culture wholly given over to the worship of
false gods and immorality, with no previous contact with the word of God or the things of God. What is your
excuse?
Vs.7 – Now it is clear to everyone that God’s promise of protection is being fulfilled. That what this (true) stories
are really all about. For us they are stories of God fulfilling His promise to His people. He made promises to us
and He will fulfill them. Even when Rahab resorts to lying (which is taking matters into her own hands) God
works good. Remember, God never sets us up to fail!
Vs. 8-11 – Rahab, an unlikely source, tells these two Israelites that God has been working at protecting and
setting the stage for the conquest of Canaan – just as He promised them in the past! It sometimes takes an
unlikely source to remind us of the love and grace of God working in our lives.
This surprising outburst of faith shows how God had a plan in bringing Rahab and the spies together. It is the
same kind of thing we see when God supernaturally brings us to people who are believers or open to the
gospel. Rahab’s declaration He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath is proof of her faith. It is not
strong faith and it is not perfect faith, but her faith is commendable nonetheless (Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:
25).
We may be appalled at the fact that Rahab was a prostitute, or that she was a liar. But the fact is that she was
not saved by her works, but by her faith. She knew who God was, she knew who she was, and she trusted God
for her very life.
Vs. 12-21 – The keeping of promises is important, as you might expect. These promises between Rahab and
the spies are one thing. But do we expect that God will keep His promises to us? Do we really intend to keep
our promises to God? Remember when you were confirmed? You promised that you would die rather than fall
away from the Christian faith – did you really mean that? Big Idea: God keeps His promises to us. Do we intend
to keep ours to Him?
The Scarlet Cord. This was the signal to the army of Israel that the people in this home were to be spared.
Despite Rahab’s desire, despite her faith, despite the promises of these spies, she would have perished unless
she put her trust in a blood red cord cast down from her window. Without the scarlet cord, she could not have
been saved. As early as the first century, commentators such as Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Ireneaus,
Origen and more saw this scarlet cord as a symbol of the blood of Jesus. And she bound the scarlet cord in the
window: Rahab immediately put her faith into both the identification and safety of the scarlet cord. She also
trusted in the ones who made the promise about the scarlet cord (according to your words, so be it). Joshua
would be a savior for Rahab, but a judge of the rest of Jericho. In the same way Jesus is a savior for those who
trust Him, but a judge for those who reject Him.
Vs. 22-24 – The two spies come back with the same report that Joshua and Caleb came back with 40 years
previously.
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