Book of Joshua - Ch. 1, Vs. 17-Ch. 2, Vs. 8 (12/07/2003)

And it says this, according as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, we will hearken unto thee only, the

Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses. They still refuse to answer to God directly.

You remember what they said at Mount Sinai, the

Lord speak with thee, not with us. They not only promised to obey him as long as God was with him, we're talking about Joshua now, but to help punish all who rebelled against him, whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto the words of all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death, only be strong and of a good courage.

Well, David, this resulted in martial law. He who disobeyed the commander or of his general should be put to death.

To this the people agreed and it was essentially necessary in order that proper discipline should be kept in all of this great army.

How great was this army, Dennis? It's not strange, is it not strange that after the death of Moses, that utter despair had not overwhelmed the people, but it didn't.

And it was by God's will that it didn't. We find, however, that they are not discouraged.

He who gave them Moses has now given them Joshua in his place.

And they had now fully learned that if God be for them, none could be successfully against them.

Is that true today, Dennis? Absolutely. From all of this, we may learn that when

God has a great work to accomplish, he will provide himself an instrument to do that great work.

And though one which he has greatly honored appeared to fall, which Moses did, we should know that he is not confined to working by that one.

He has his way everywhere. All things serve the purpose of his will.

He will surely support his church on earth as he will support the earth itself.

You know, we lose sight of that sometimes. We don't think about the earth just spending here in space.

But Roger, the earth is kept in orbit by what and who.

That's exactly right. While the sun and moon endure, the church shall flourish.

This is for his own honor, and he certainly is more concerned for his glory in the administration of justice, judgment, and salvation to us.

Though God had so implicitly promised them his help, yet he strongly insists on what,

David? Courage on their part, our part?

He strongly insists on their own cooperation. He requires the use of every power and talent.

He has given, even Joshua himself must be strong and very courageous, and the people must obey him in all things in order that they may go over the

Jordan and possess the good land.

And without this, they will never get into the promised land. We're born in our promised land.

They had to go into it, but it's much the same today.

We have to fight. We have to clear the way.

We have to follow God. We have to protect our loved ones. He works in us to will and to do his pleasure.

That's so obvious that we overlook it. He gives the rule of his will in things that are holy, and the power to bring the acts of his will into good practice and effect.

Therefore, says the apostle, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

David, what does that mean, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?

Yes. Without the power, without his power, you can do nothing.

Greg, you cannot do nothing. Poor English, but that's good theology.

Without the power of God, you can do nothing. You can neither will it or do it.

But having the power, it is your duty to will and to do. It is enough that God gives the power.

It is our duty when we receive these talents to improve them.

In a million of cases, a man may be brought able to will and to do, and yet do neither.

Now, going into chapter 2, this chapter takes up Rahab.

How many know about Rahab? We all do.

And it begins saying this, And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying,

Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went and came into an harlot's house, named

Rahab, and lodged there. Now, Greg, what did

Joshua do different than Moses when Moses sent people into the land?

Dennis? All right, that's one difference.

Bob? They went unawares of the spies that Moses sent.

They stayed away from the people. All right. Roger?

All right. There's one big difference you haven't found yet, Joy. He sent twelve.

Well, you're touching on it. David, why is two better than twelve?

All right. Dennis, explain it to us.

Well, I will agree that instead of twelve, one is important. And two is one.

All right. That's it.

Moses sent people into all of the land. Joshua sends them to Jericho.

Only. Not twelve as Moses did. He's looking to take just a small parcel of the land.

Now, Greg, what does that tell us in our day? That's it.

That's it. If you look at the whole life laid out ahead of you, you can get so bogged down you do nothing.

And God forces us, if we adhere to his rules, or whether we don't, he forces us to live it just one day at a time.

One moment at a time. So, Joshua sent these two into the land to look around about Jericho.

To learn the state of the land and the people at Jericho. Now, it's evident that Joshua did not distrust

God because he had his commandment of direction for all of this encouragement and his army.

Now, the word secretly. Men to spy secretly.

Now, Bob, let me ask him. He won't be here next week.

This secret was in reference to who? Well, that's one approach.

Why would he do that? That's it.

The secret was in secret from the Israelites. They didn't need to know that there was two spies going.

This would prevent several things. His explaining to them, which he didn't need to do.

And the inconvenience of possibly something went wrong.

And there was discouragement. Now we come to Jericho.

The land, not just Jericho itself, but the surrounding countryside.

Then we come to the harlot. The Hebrew word is used in Judges 11 .1.

So it is rendered by the two apostles. Hebrews and James.

I think Paul wrote Hebrews. She either was or rather had been formerly a harlot.

There's been lots and lots of writing on this.

Let's just take it as it comes. 2. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying,

Behold, there came men in hither to -night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

Now, Dennis, who told the king this? That's exactly right.

Now, David, did the people of Jericho know that the army of the

Israelites were on the other side of the river? In fact, the

Lord told them that he would put the fear of them upon their enemy.

Now, how did he do this, Greg? Yes. That's so right.

3. And the king of Jericho said unto

Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house, for they be come to search out all of the country.

Now, the plot thickens. 4. Though the wicked see the hand of God on them, they do not repent.

Were you ever aware of that? 5.

They will seek how they may by power and policy resist his working.

Have you ever seen that? Probably, Israel had but one friend in Jericho, and God directed them to her.

Now, we're going into a land that is hostile.

Thus, what seems to be most accidental was no accident at all, was it?

It's going to serve the good ends of God. And those that acknowledge

God in their ways, he will guide them with his eye.

Today, tomorrow, yesterday. 6. And the woman took the two men and hid them, and said thus,

There came men unto me, but I wished not whence they were.

She says to the authorities that come to the house. Now, why didn't they just come in?

David, why didn't these officials just come in and search? Bob?

Well, Roger? Well, why didn't these men just say, excuse me, but we're going to search your house?

Well, they lived under a different culture than we do. That's what would happen in this country, but not in that country, even today.

Rahab is being asked to bring out the spies to the soldiers that sent for them.

It is in strict keeping with Eastern manners, which would not permit any man to enter a woman's house without her permission.

So, you see, that working for God also. For God ordained it also.

And the woman took the two men, now she's back with the two men, and hid them, and said thus,

There came men unto me, but I wished not whence they were.

But the woman had taken and had hid them before the messengers came.

This is justly mentioned as a great and generous act of faith on her part.

Now, frankly, I'm having a little difficulty in coming down on Rahab's side, although I know that it's right to do.

And in Hebrews 11, 31, we read this, By faith the harlot

Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

So she apparently ventured her life upon the steadfast persuasion of the truth of God's word and promise given to the

Israelites. Isn't it strange that here a Cainite woman believes

God? How did she find out all these things,

David? She may have picked up a little bit by listening to the men, but I believe that it was by a direct revelation of God to her, without her knowing it, she just believed them.

Well, Greg, her answer contained in these and the following words,

Was it false? Did she lie? All right, after she had told this white lie.

Well, it's very probable. And again, David and I spoke about this last week.

You know, our culture has caused us to think a certain way on subjects.

And Bob, we cannot escape that. That's the way we were trained.

That's the way we thought. That's the way we think. And if you had done anything similar to what this woman did, it would be a lie to you.

But I believe it's very probable. She was a heathen, and a heathen might think that an official lie is not unlawful.

The Jews themselves. I have a list someplace of how you can lie.

First of all, don't do it unless you know how. And it's all right to lie to a heathen.

So it's not so far -fetched, Dennis, to suppose that this woman didn't consider it a lie.

I can't think that way, but it's possible. Yes. All right, it was to please

God we know. Let's go a little further. And it came to pass, about the time of shutting of the gate when it was dark, that the men went out.

Whether the men went, I want not. Pursue after them quickly, for you shall overtake them.

Still talking to the soldiers. So it appears that it was night when the king sent these messengers to her, ordering that she produce the persons.

Had these transactions taken place in daylight, it's possible that the spies could have escaped.

But this is no excuse for her lying about it. God never says to any, do evil, that good may come from it.

That's not the way he works. Sixth, but she had brought them up to the roof of the house and hid them with the stalks of flax which she had laid in order upon the roof.

Now, the rooftops were flat in that country. Still are to a great extent.

This flax, it was, if you remember, the river was overflowing.

It was at harvest time. And she had cut or had stacked the flax in bundles on the roof so that the flax could dry.

And it was behind these stacks that she hid the men. Seven, and the men pursued after them the way to Jericho, the way to Jordan unto the fords, and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gates.

Greg, what is a ford? It's not a

Model T. Okay. This precaution was to ensure the capture of the spies should they return, or if they'd been in the city, they shut the gates.

They had walls around the cities, and they would have one getting in and getting out place, perhaps two, but they were not open as they are in this country.

And before they were laid down, she came up to them upon the roof.

The matter is settled here between Rahab and these spies as to what's going to happen to her and her people, her relations, when they come in.

Now, it's amazing to me how much she understood. She was raised a heathen, didn't know anything of God.

This was what they came for. This is what they were going to do, and they had escaped the officers and scarcely recovered from the fright of it.

See how God makes His wonderful works to be remembered so that men shall speak of the mighty of His terrible acts.

It's found in Psalms 145 and 6. He speaks of this.

She tells them what impressions the tidings of these things had made upon the

Canaanites. Your terror has fallen upon us. Our hearts did melt.

If she kept a public house, this would give her an opportunity of understanding the sense of all that the spies were doing.

Well, I'm looking for something maybe to come up.

Know this, that, know this any way better than by her information, and it would be of great use to Joshua and Israel to know it.

It would put courage into the most cowardly Israelite to hear how their enemies were demoralized.

And it was easy to conclude that those who now fainted before them would infallibly fall before them, especially because it was the accomplishment of the promise of God.

You know, we read and study these things that did occur, and Dennis, we think it makes a good story, but there's a truth in it for us to apply today as we work our way through this life.

First, you're raised in the home, and then eventually you go out on your own.

You choose a mate, and you go through life, no matter how long or short it is.

And all of it is according to God. Every once in a while, joy lets us see a little bit of Him working.

But we realize it is of God. Let me read one more verse.

This is found in Deuteronomy 11 .25. There shall no man be able to stand before you, for the

Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that you shall tread upon, as He has said unto you.

And so it would be an earnest of the accomplishment of all other promises

God had made to them. Let not the stalwart man glory in his courage any more than the strong man in his strength.

For God can weaken both mind and body. Let not

God's Israel be afraid of their most powerful enemies. Let us not be afraid of the most powerful enemies against us.

Is that true, Greg? For the

Lord God can, when it pleases, make their most powerful enemies afraid of them.

God can do that. Let none think to harden their hearts against the

Lord. God can prosper. For he that made men's souls can at any time make the sword of his terrors to deal with it.

She believes God's power and dominion over all of the world. Rahab was honored because of her faith.

And she found use of her lie, if that's what it was.

But she was honored not for that. It was for her faith. Now, is there anything from anybody?

We've got three or four minutes. I was thinking that the, uh, her being a, you know, harlot, you're saying, um,

I've heard a lot of very old, uh, the victories of the numbers.

You might have made a decision with that. But this is, you don't have a chance.

You're stepping. This is, that's wrong. We accept

Christ as our Savior. But your faith, that she is, uh, all through her age,

I accept it. God heard that.

Faith, that she put her life, that her family, jeopardy,

I don't, I guess, I don't know if that's very true, but her,

I think, she put her faith, and this is quite, quite wrong.

Yes. Uh, I'm just thinking about our country.

What would we do if we were put in such a situation? We can say what we would do, and what we hope we would do, but we don't know.

I do know what I would want to do. I don't know if I'd do it, because I haven't had to.

Anything from anyone else. We could at least go somewhere else. That's my last chance.

We could at least say that I'd rather get Jesus to die, than to live.

And, uh, we don't, don't need no, no, that's true enough. We can say that.

Say it all at once. Put the bullet away. Go on. Every day, you live out the rest of your life.

It's, it's a lot harder to live, and these people will find it out, and they're an example for us.

It was, it was easy to agree before the fact, but when the fact comes, will you agree?

Joy? Yes. That, that's so right.

Even in Iraq and Iran, and in the middle of all of the hot spot in the world,

God has his people. And never fear, they will be saved in due time.

Anything from anyone else? Bob, will you dismiss us, please?

Our Heavenly Father, we are truly thankful for the ability we have to sit here and do all these great works that reinforce our belief and give us the courage that the

Father has by faith to show us that He is not only

God, but strong and powerful in His presence.

The Lord is with you. Amen. Yes.