1. So the two spies escape Jericho with the help of Rahab the prostitute
So the two spies escape Jericho with the help of Rahab the prostitute. Joshua 2 Being saved by a prostitute was not an easy story to share with their wives.

2. Goals of Our Study
To learn how God moved from man's problem of sin to His solution of Jesus on the cross
To understand how everything in the scriptures relates to, and points to, Jesus and the cross
To understand how everything in the Bible reveals God to mankind who He is and what He is like
Get a better understanding of how we got here tonight on the orange carpet

3. Main concepts of our study
"Scheme of Redemption" The plan of God, established before creation, to redeem mankind from sin
View the Bible as a novel, with 66 different chapters
The real division taking place at Genesis 3:6 rather than between Malachi and Matthew
This division covers two drastically different worlds: The world prior to sin and the world after sin

4. Main concepts of our study
Genesis 1-2: God and perfection, man and innocence
Genesis 3-12 – The Background of Redemption
Genesis – Redemption through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
Exodus 1-12 – Slavery In and Judgement On Egypt
Exodus – Two Month Journey to Sinai
Exodus 19-Numbers 10 – One Year at Sinai
Number – Unbelief
Number 15-Deut 34 – 40 Years of Wandering
Joshua – Canaan Conquered and Divided

5. Recap
Intro to Joshua
Discussed God’s admonition to Joshua to be bold and courageous, and to not be afraid
Discussed some of the things Joshua would have to deal with:
Disobedience of Israelites
Facing overwhelming odds in battle
Killing women and children

6. Conquest begins
Joshua 1:10-15 – Joshua commanded all of the officers to inform the people to prepare themselves to cross the Jordan
Vs – They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

7. Conquest begins
Joshua 1:10-15 – Joshua commanded all of the officers to inform the people to prepare themselves to cross the Jordan
Vs – They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
How do you think Joshua felt about this one!? No! Please DON’T!

8. Spies in Jericho
Joshua 2:1 – Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.

9. Spies in Jericho
Joshua 2:2-4 – It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

10. Spies in Jericho
Joshua 2:5-7 – It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.

11. Rahab affirms God’s work
Joshua 2:8-11 – Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

12. Rahab affirms God’s work
Joshua 2:12-14 – Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

13. Rahab affirms God’s work
Rahab works a plan with the spies to spare her family and her. The agreement was:
She was to not discuss what they were up to with anyone
She was to hang a scarlet cord in her window as a marker of which residence was hers
She gave them instructions for how to escape the men who were out searching for them
After 3 days, the spies returned to Joshua and reported all that happened.
Verse 24 – Then Joshua said, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.”

14. Rahab is spared
Joshua 6:25 - However, Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

15. Why is this story recorded here?
What are some reasons this story would be included?
Show how the news of God’s work had spread and caused changed hearts
To show that Rahab’s faith was great, even more than Israel’s!
Most likely reason:
Rahab was in the line of Jesus! A prostitute who feared God ended playing a role in bringing mine and your salvation into this world!

16. Rahab in the line of Jesus
Matthew 1:1-6 – The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king.

17. Rahab in the line of Jesus
This story of Rahab has no significance to apart from the fact that it was Rahab.
Certainly there were other such monumental events that occurred during the conquest, yet are not recorded
Once again, we see the truth of the idea that everything that is recorded all relates to Jesus and the cross!
It is not a coincidence that Rahab’s story just happened to be recorded and that she just happened to end up in the line of Jesus

18. Israel crosses Jordan on dry ground
Joshua 4 – God instructs Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan. Again, the waters are parted
Levitical priests were to carry the ark into the Jordan
The waters of Jordan would cease flowing and “stand up into a heap” (3:13)
Israel crossed on dry ground
Joshua 4 – God instructs Joshua to set up 12 memorial stones, gathered from the dry riverbed of Jordan

19. Memorial of the crossing
Joshua 4:20-24 – Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
A Good idea for our own homes. Memoires of various events and things that God has done for your family. Serves as a reminder for us, and as a discussion piece for our children and grandchildren

20. No more manna!
Joshua 5:10-12 – While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho. On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

21. Coming up
Continue discussion of the conquest of Canaan