Believing Promises Joshua 2:1-24

Rahab Rahab’s Profession (Joshua 2:1-7) Rahab’s Profession of Faith (Joshua 2:8- 11) Rahab’s Promises (Joshua 2:12-24)

DISCUSSION GUIDE 1. What mission did Joshua give the spies who went into Canaan? (Joshua 2:1) The spies were given a reconnaissance mission. They were to look over the land, especially the city of Jericho.

The verse tells us that Rahab was a prostitute DISCUSSION GUIDE 2. What does this verse tell us about Rahab? (Joshua 2:1) The verse tells us that Rahab was a prostitute

DISCUSSION GUIDE 3. What do these verses tell us about what kind of people God can use to accomplish his purpose?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 4. When he heard that there were spies in the city what did the King of Jericho do? (Joshua 2:2-3) When he heard there were spies in the city the King of Jericho sent word to Rahab to send the men out of her home.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 5. How did Rahab respond? What did she do to protect the spies? (Joshua 2:4-6) Rahab lied to the king. She said that the men had left her home before the gates were closed in the evening. Actually, Rahab had taken the spies to the roof of her home and hid them under stalks of flax.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 6. Does this story give you and me the freedom to lie as long as we do it for a good cause?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 7. How did Rahab know that God had given the land over to the Israelites? (Joshua 2:8-13) Rahab pointed to all the successes of Israel as proof that God was protecting them. She mentioned the miracle at the Red Sea and the victory over the kings of the Amorites.

Rahab said that God is God in heaven and earth DISCUSSION GUIDE 8. What statement did Rahab make about God? (Joshua 2:11) Rahab said that God is God in heaven and earth

9. What does this statement tell you about Rahab’s faith? DISCUSSION GUIDE 9. What does this statement tell you about Rahab’s faith?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 10. What bargain did the spies make with Rahab? (Joshua 2:12-14)? The men agreed that since Rahab was protecting them they would treat her kindly and faithfully when they took the land

DISCUSSION GUIDE 11. What were the specific conditions of the deal the spies made with Rahab? (Joshua 2:17-20) The men agreed to save Rahab and her family under the Following conditions. Rahab must: Tie a scarlet cord in the window through which the spies would escape Bring all her family into her house because anyone outside the house would not be safe She must not tell anyone about the plans of the Israelites

12. What risks did Rahab take by hiding the Israelite spies? DISCUSSION GUIDE 12. What risks did Rahab take by hiding the Israelite spies?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 13. What report did the spies give to Joshua? (Joshua 2:24) The spies told Joshua that God had given the whole land into their hands. They went on to tell Joshua how afraid the Canaanites were of the Israelites.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 14. What does Rahab’s story tell us about the change that God can make in a life?

Noah was a drunk Isaiah preached naked Abraham was too old Jonah ran from God Isaac was a daydreamer Naomi was a widow Jacob was a liar Job went bankrupt Leah was ugly John the Baptist ate bugs Joseph was abused Peter denied Christ Moses had a stuttering problem The Disciples fell asleep while praying Gideon was afraid Martha worried about everything Samson had long hair and was a womanizer The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once Rahab was a prostitute Zacchaeus was too small Jeremiah and Timothy were too young Paul was too religious David had an affair and was a murderer Timothy had an ulcer... Elijah was suicidal AND Lazarus was dead!

Charles Colson