Joshua 1-3
Beginning the book of Joshua, we find ourselves on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan river, outside the land of promise. To put this in context, remember that the whole Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) was building up to this moment, the moment that God would fulfill his promises to Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3. Those promises were descendants, blessing, and land. Where’s the land? Answer, on the other side of the Jordan, in the land of the Canaan. Picture the Jordan river running North to South, the Israelites in Shittim on the east, and a plan to enter Jericho on the West. This was the moment that God was to fulfill his promise, and key to the promise was the work of a prostitute named Rahab. Rahab would hide the spies, providing vital intel to the Israelites while also revealing the fear of the king of Jericho. Rahab is mentioned in the genealogy we read our Savior Jesus in Matthew 1. Rahab is extoled in both Hebrews 11 and James 2. Why would God, the God of all creation, choose this uncanny character? The same reason he chooses a wall of water to rise when the priests dip their toes in the Jordan. It is the Lord who saves, no one else, and God wants to make sure that we know it.
Reflect – Imagine you are the Israelites following Joshua into a foreign land, receiving intel from a prostitute, being told you have to conquer a superpower, seeing this miraculous wall of water rise out of the Jordan, and being asked to trust God unequivocally. “Be courageous, be very courageous” the Lord repeats in 1:6-7. In what ways is the Lord challenging you in your life to be courageous, trusting that he is the God who will not leave you or forsake you, even if the path is winding?
Connect: Hebrews 11:31 commends the faith of Rahab, even in light of her profession
Hebrews 11:30-31 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Beginning the book of Joshua, we find ourselves on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan river, outside the land of promise. To put this in context, remember that the whole Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) was building up to this moment, the moment that God would fulfill his promises to Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3. Those promises were descendants, blessing, and land. Where’s the land? Answer, on the other side of the Jordan, in the land of the Canaan. Picture the Jordan river running North to South, the Israelites in Shittim on the east, and a plan to enter Jericho on the West. This was the moment that God was to fulfill his promise, and key to the promise was the work of a prostitute named Rahab. Rahab would hide the spies, providing vital intel to the Israelites while also revealing the fear of the king of Jericho. Rahab is mentioned in the genealogy we read our Savior Jesus in Matthew 1. Rahab is extoled in both Hebrews 11 and James 2. Why would God, the God of all creation, choose this uncanny character? The same reason he chooses a wall of water to rise when the priests dip their toes in the Jordan. It is the Lord who saves, no one else, and God wants to make sure that we know it.
Reflect – Imagine you are the Israelites following Joshua into a foreign land, receiving intel from a prostitute, being told you have to conquer a superpower, seeing this miraculous wall of water rise out of the Jordan, and being asked to trust God unequivocally. “Be courageous, be very courageous” the Lord repeats in 1:6-7. In what ways is the Lord challenging you in your life to be courageous, trusting that he is the God who will not leave you or forsake you, even if the path is winding?
Connect: Hebrews 11:31 commends the faith of Rahab, even in light of her profession
Hebrews 11:30-31 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
– Pastor Joseph Bianco