Day 354 - Joshua 2

From: Chapter-A-Day: Volume 1 By: Norman W. Berry

• 1 min. read • grade level: 9

V.1-11 How much like ourselves were these Old Testament people! Joshua’s faith is not strong, so he sends spies instead of just going ahead on the sure Word of Jehovah (Joshua 1:1-6¹Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, ²Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. ³Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. ⁴From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. ⁵There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ⁶Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. (Joshua 1:1‑6)). Rahab, an immoral woman turns to Jehovah by faith — but isn’t truthful with her neighbors.

V.12-21 While Rahab was not as upright as she should have been, it was her personal faith in God which made her willing to forsake her people and turn to help Israel.

V.21 Shows that she immediately put out the “token” or sign as to whose side she and her household were on. How about us and our homes, is it plain whose side we are on?

V.22-24 It was Israel’s weakness of faith that led to the sending of the spies. It was Jehovah’s wonderful grace which gave the spies the evidence they looked for, to encourage them. Rahab, for her faith in God, later came in to the family of Israel, married Salmon, and became one in the royal line, into which Jesus was born, much later (Matt. 1:5⁵And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; (Matthew 1:5)). She is also mentioned in Hebrews 11:31³¹By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31) and James 2:25²⁵Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (James 2:25), neither of which hides what she was before, but mentions her faith and works.

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