Good morning!! Joshua 2!
Some observations that I made about this chapter.
- Notice how Joshua only sent two spies to check out the land where as Moses had sent 12. I wonder if Joshua only sent 2 because he remembered how when many were sent, fear fell upon the majority and brought much disaster on the Israelites when they said we can't defeat the enemy. I wonder if Joshua's strategy was then to send two Godly men who were strong in faith and knew that they would return and not be motivated by fear but by faith. If fear is what motivates our decisions and not faith then think of the God things that would never get done. Maybe that's why some committees in the church don't accomplish as much for the Lord because they're motivated by fear verses faith.
- Take the two spies for example. They didn't have it easy. They faced some very scary and fearful situations. For ungodly reasons I have hidden in a cornfield or Woods being searched by a police officer and a farmer because of a practical joke done on the road. It was dark and fear was huge because of not being able to see or know for sure where people were. So I can imagine the fear they must have had at night not knowing for sure where the enemy was. You hear a sound and you wonder if it's the enemy. But when they returned to Joshua, they responded by faith and said we can take them. Fear is a great enemy in our lives. Fear can kill so much ministry and much of God's plans. I know there is such thing as healthy fear but in general I don't want the fear of the enemy to deter what God is wanting to do.
- Rahab protected God's people. She did so by lying. She stood up for God. She knew in her heart God was the one and only God! She protected God’s people so she wouldn't be in opposition with God. In the book of Hebrews, God says because of her faith she welcomed the spies and protected them, therefore her life was not taken by God. Some find this troubling because Rahab lied and we know that lying is bad. I don't want to get into a debate about whether she should or should not have lied as much as I want to focus on her heart. We often focus so much on people's behavior that we miss what's really in their heart. We miss the motives of the heart. God saw Rahab's heart was belief in the one and only true God. Her motives for protecting them was because of her faith in that one true God. God is a God of mercy and Grace. I'm glad he looks past my stupid actions and sees my heart. We should show the same Love, mercy and Grace for others rather than be quick to judge them on their actions because deep inside their heart may be different plus they may be crying out for help. There are a lot of people hurting inside wanting help. Their actions are very negative because of the hurt inside. Let us love people into healing rather than attack their behavior and destroy what faith God might be building in their hearts.
What is going on in your life today? Does the fear of something new, or the fear of what is before you, preventing what God is trying to do? Where is faith? Is Faith overpowered by fear or is your fear overpowered by faith?
Awe, PB, Amen to your comments on Rahab’s heart. Was she perfect and sinless … no, and neither am I. God knows there’s all kinds of weakness even in our best works. But in 1 Corinthians 3, we are told that all of our works will be tried by fire where the wood, hay and stubble – that which was done with mixed motives and carnality – will burn away. What is left will be the precious stones – the gold and silver others can’t see. Satan is the one who tells us our motives aren’t pure; God specializes in extracting the precious from the vile.
Rahab is honored by James (chapter 2) as an example of faith. She’s inducted into the hall of faith of Hebrews (chapter 11). She’s in the genealogy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1). I find this so encouraging in my personal life. Faith can conquer a lot of difficulties and baggage we carry from our past. God shows us He can and will use any of us who are willing to be used for His purposes. Thank you Jesus!
Pastor Blair makes a good point about the possible reason for there being only 2 spies sent this time instead of 12 before. Joshua & Caleb were the only 2 out of the 12 who gave a good report when they were spying 40 years earlier. I hadn’t given that much thought before. I think that looking at Rahab can give us hope. Everything seemed to be going against her. She was not one of the Jewish people, but from Jericho. Her home was built into the wall of the city and she was a prostitute. God still rescued her. She was remembered for her kindness. It reminds me of the one thief on a cross next to Jesus who asked Jesus to remember him. His life that was almost over seemed hopeless too until he met Jesus! That scarlet cord in Rahab’s window also reminded me of the Passover and ultimately of Jesus as the Lamb of God. No matter who we are or what our past may be like, Jesus can rescue us from our sin and give us new life! Are we showing the “scarlet cord” in our lives to set us apart from the world? Just as Jeanine wrote, God can and will use any of us who are willing to be used for His purposes.