Vv. 1-7, the spies
Moses sent the spies to check the strength of the Canaanites, and they got into trouble, Num 13:18. Regardless of the Canaanites' strength, God had promised the land, and it was unbelief to compare the strength of the enemy to the strength of God.
TRUTH VS LIE is a mailing somewhere. It is not reproduced below though it was taken from the handwriten notes.
Many today act in the unbelief that Moses' spies had because they spend their energy on the strength of the enemy, not on claiming the promises of God. Those who do that and claim to be Christians have apostatize from Christianity: They have departed from the faith, and God will not give victory until the unbelief is dealt with.
On the other hand, Joshua sent two men over the Jordan River to check for the best way for Israel to enter the land, and for a good spot for the nation to camp once they crossed the river. The first city they came to was Jericho, about 7 miles on the West side, the opposite side of the river.
The men sent by Joshua ended up in the city of Jericho, and, evidently, the king of the city realized who they were and why they were there. He heard they went to Rahab's establishment. Though Rahab is described as a harlot, a prostitute, more than a few scholars hold she was a legitimate tavern-keeper for entertaining travelers, and was not a prostitute. However, it was not unusual for an harlot to have such an establishment. We do know that Joshua's spies did not intentionally go to a known harlot's establishment. Evidently, she kept a public establishment for the benefit of travelers, though she was also a harlot.
The king sent to Rahab, and told her to deliver the men of Israel to him because they were spying out the land for the coming invasion.
Rahab hid the men, and lied to the king in such a way as to protect the men of Israel, and sent the king's men on a wild-goose chase while the men of Israel safely escaped back to their camp.
This is 40 years after Israel came out of Egypt, and the Canaanites knew all about what took place. God had given the Canaanites plenty of time to repent and turn from their sins, so they had no one to blame for their destruction but themselves.
Questions:
1. Who led the men to Rahab's house? God's divine providence guides and protects. It was the Lord who delivered the spies to the safety of Rahab's establishment though they were not looking for her to hide them.
The Lord works in the most unusual of places and circumstances. Of all places to find God's protection: the public house of Rahab.
One of the major faults we have is restricting the workings of the Lord. There are no accidents with the Lord, and in everything, we should expect and look for His hand. ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER...
3. Why does Rahab treat the men with great respect? Not because of the gain she might receive, but because of their God.
A. Rahab is used in the NT to show what about faith, Jas 2:25? faith without works are worthless
B. Rahab proves that godly faith does not fear what man can and will do to us as we do what we know is required of us by the Lord. What does fear of man cause, Pro 29:25? a snare preventing our obedience to God.
a. Rahab exemplified the whole duty of man: What is it, Ecc 12:13? fear God and keep his commandments--do those things pleasing in his sight.
C. Not only does God reward Rahab by spearing her and her family from destruction, but how else does He reward her, Mat 1:5? With a godly family.
The world today has made having a family almost a shame, but here God clearly tells us that it is a mark of His blessings: A godly family was His reward to Rahab for her faith. We can almost dogmatically say that whatever the world exalts, e.g., CAREER WOMEN, the Lord does not.
D. Who will enter into the Kingdom before the religious who feel they have no need of anything, Mat 21:31. Harlots...
4. What did Rahab, and the people of the land, believe:
A. V. 9 there is a God in heaven
B. V. 10 He was a Lord of miracles, the Red Sea
C. V. 10 He judged the wicked, the two kings.
D. V. V. 11, 9 He is the God of heaven and earth, and no one could stand against this God
E. V. 13 He was going to judge the wicked with death, and He alone could spare from death
5. V. 11, we, our, any man... Though the king and the people knew who the men were, why the spies were there and what was in store for them, what did they refuse to do? Repent and believe in Israel's God. Of all the Canaanite people confronted by Israel, Rahab is the only one named who converted to serve Him. However, the Gibeonites as a race made a deal and converted to spare their lives.
A. Why was Rahab the only one who moved with Godly fear to save here household (e.g., Heb 11:7)? What must take place before anyone can "see" the truth of God's Word, 2 Cor 4:6? God must open their eyes.
Many attempt to explain away Rahab's lies, saying that she sinned. We have done a major study on this and preached a message wrote an article some time ago, so we will not go into it now.
There are several instances of using lies in Scriptures to protect the innocent from the wicked. If self-defense is permitted in Scripture even to the point of killing an attacker against the innocent, then lies used to protect the life of the godly from the wicked are no longer lies: Truth is the Word of God, not the word of man.
Can you name some instances where lies were used to protect the lives of the guiltless from the wicked?
Examples
Truth is always in terms of God's word and good. Very few Christians will admit this, therefore, we will keep track of both the good and the bad lies in this document. It is amazing how many times lies are used to protect the godly from the desires of the wicked, who used lies for their protection and God's lack of condemnation for the 'liar.'
1 Sam.19:14-17. David's wife, Michal, lied to her dad, Saul, as he tried to kill David.
20:5-8. David and Jonathan agreed together to lie to Saul about David's whereabouts when Saul would ask. David considered this agreement to lie as a covenant of the Lord, v.8.
V. 28,29. The lie is carried out to Saul.
21:1-9. David lies to the priest in order to get the show
bread to eat. This reference is interesting. The Lord uses this
as an illustration that the law is for man's benefit, not man
for the law's benefit, Mat. 12:1-4. In this, the Lord makes not
even a passing reference to the fact that David lied to get the
bread. In fact, He places His approval on David taking the bread.
The point He makes is the very one the 'pious' forget, the law
is for the protection of the righteous, not for their destruction.
When the wicked try to use the law against the righteous, they
lose all right to the 'truth,' as we think of it. Also, the righteous
does not owe the 'truth' to those who desire to use it against
them. Truth is in terms of righteousness and justice and God.
V. 13. David lied before Achish the king of Gath out of fear. Many would, no doubt, say, David didn't trust the Lord to take care of him. Again, Christ pulls the illustration He uses right out of the middle of this chapter to illustrate the truth of the law. The law was given to preserve life, not take it.
22:9. Doeg tells Saul a lie in the matter of the priest inquiring of the Lord for David and the truth concerning the bread and sword. David considers him an evil, wicked liar, Psa. 52.
27:10--. When David was living in the land of the Philistines where Achish was king, he went in raids against the enemies of Israel. In order to protect himself, he lied to Achish about where he went on these raids. He told Achish that he went against his own people. David left no one alive to dispute his story.
29:6-11. David has carried out his lie very well. The Philistines are gathered together to fight against Israel and David goes with Achish to join with the united Philistine army against Israel. As the many different Philistine armies 'passed in review,' the princes of the Philistines recognized David with Achish. They called Achish before them and asked him what he thought he was doing by bringing David with him in battle against his own people. Achish defended David as a man who had been faithful to him (a Philistine king) even against his own people, Israel. The Philistines would not buy the story and made him send David back where he came from.
Achish calls David before him and tells him what the prince's had said. David plays the part of a faithful servant to the 'hilt,' swearing undying allegiance to Achish. Achish again believes him, but yields to the demands of the princes and sends him home.
The point? David has lived a lie before Achish for over a year, and we have no record of God's condemnation of this action. In fact, it appears that God prospered him as he defended Israel while he was living this lie. God even protected him by His providence so that he didn't have to go into battle with these Philistines against Israel. David makes a 'big deal' of the lack of trust on the part of the Philistine princes.
2 Samuel 15
V.34. David is fleeing from Absalom. One of his faithful advisers desires to go with him. David tells him to return to the king, now Bvsalom in Jerusalem, lie to him that he will have the same loyality to him as he had to his father, David. The purpose was to lie to Absalom and give him bad information in David's favor.
Chapter 16
V. 18. Hushai, the man David sent back, now lies to Absalom.
The obvious point here is that the wicked, as they work their
wickedness, have no right to the truth which will help them accomplish
their wicked devices.
Truth is always in terms of God's righteousness and justice.
Chapter 17
V. 14. Ahithophel's good counsel was rejected for Hushai's bad counsel (for Absalom). Hushai lied to Absalom and Absalom took the bad advise, for it was of God that he follow the wrong counsel.
V. 20. This is one of the more obvious lies. Hushai sent word to David about Absalom's plans. Absalom hears that some men have fled out of the city to David, so he sends after them. The two men are hidden in a well, a cover placed over it, and the woman who hid them lies to those seeking them.
The wicked have no right to the truth in order that they might destory the righteous.
3/1/90
2 Kings 6
V.19. The king of Syria warred against the king of Israel. Every time the king of Syria tried to make planes against Israel, Elisha told the king of Israel the planes. The king of Syria inquired and found that Elisha was telling all. He sent a great host by night to take Elisha. We all know the story.
When the army moved against Elisha, Elisha asked the Lord to smite the people with blindness, which He did. Elisha met the army in v. 19, and said, 2KI 6:19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
No matter how we cut it, Elisha lied to the Syrian army and led them into a trap.
CHAPTER 10
V. 19- Here we have Jehu lieing in order to get all of the worshipers of Baal to come together that he might kill them. V. 30, the Lord compliments Jehu.
Conclusion of Joshua 2:1-7:
Is there a command to obey?
Is there an example to follow?
Is there a sin to avoid?
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there an important verse for us?
Josh 2:8-21
This section contains an exceptionally strong statement of faith. The king's men leave the house, and Joshua's men go to the roof to sleep. The pagan's had more confidence in Israel's God than Israel did, yet they refused to turn to the Lord. TYPICAL OF SINNERS. Only the Lord can give a spirit of repentance.
The Lord had given the land to Israel 40 years previously; Rahab knew that if the Lord could deliver the land to Israel, He could also deliver her and her household from the coming destruction, so she makes a deal. The men agree to the deal, and she helps them escape.
V. 9 gives us two types of knowledge of and fear of God. (See 2 Cor. 7.)
First, the knowledge of God and his fear in the hearts of the people of the land had nothing to do with repentance over sin. They knew God, but refused to glorify him as God. Rather, they locked their gates in fear, and sought to kill anyone who served the God of the Hebrews.
Second, the same knowledge and fear caused Rahab to take action to make peace with the God of the Hebrews, and open her door to his representatives.
Vv. 9, 10, take place 420 years after Genesis 15:16. The people had 420 years to repent of their wickedness. V. 10, they heard what the Lord had done 40 years previously at the Red sea, and what the Lord had just done for his people against the kings on the other side of the Jordan. They knew, they saw and they heard what was happening, yet they still would not turn from their sins. God did not move on the spur of the moment against the Canaanites, but gave them plenty of time to repent. They refused.
V. 11, Rahab believed in God, and the people of the land believed in the same God:
1) They believed there was a God.
2) They believed he was a God of Miracles, Red sea.
3) They believed he judged wickedness, what he did to the two
kings.
4) They believed no one could stand before him because:
a) he is the God of heaven and earth.
b) they feared him
5) They believed that he alone could spare them from death, which
was sure.
Now, who believed the above? V. 9, all the inhabitants of the land. (V. 10, we, v. 11, we, our, any man.) In other words, everyone believed the God as described above. They even confessed their belief, but only Rahab and her house acted on the belief in the mighty God of the Hebrews.
This chapter well illustrates James' statement, Faith without works is dead. Everyone in the land had faith in the God of the Hebrews, but only Rahab moved with fear to the saving of her household. Rahab's active faith preserved her life; the other inhabitants inactive faith delivered them to death. (This passage also illustrates Rom. 1:21. The Canaanites knew God, but refused to glorify him as God.)
V. 19, whosoever :
Will may come and drink freely of the water of life.
Believeth on him shall not perish.
Shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Shall humble himself will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
(Mt. 18:4)
Means even me.
V. 21, she had told them to hide for 3 days (v. 16), but notice that she took immediate action. She did not put off tying the cord. She was not going to take any chances; she did not put it off to a more convenient season. "Some day I will do great things for God." (Ac. 24:25.)
Questions:
1. Rahab was confident that who was at work in giving Israel the land? the Lord God
2. How much earlier had the actions of vv. 9-11 taken place? 40 years: The miracle was so great that it survived for 40 years in a pagan nation. The Lord had given plenty of warning and time to repent.
3. Rahab pleaded for kindness: What is another word for kindness, Exo 20:6? mercy, and we see this abundantly fulfilled in Rahab.
A. What is promised in Ps 33:18? the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him and hope in his mercy.
B. What does God's mercy cause Him to do, Ps 103:10? not deal with us after our sins, for He remembers we are dust.
C. What should His people do because of the Lord's mercy, Ps 136:26? Give thanks unto the Lord.
4. What did Rahab ask of the men, v. 13? spare her and her household
5. The scarlet thread was evidently the cord by which she let them down over the wall. Scarlet is red: The red dye came from the dried body of a female insect, 'coccus ilicis.'
A. The scarlet cord spoke of what, Heb 9:19? The blood of the passover lamb by which the people had been delivered from Egypt
B. What else did speak of, 1 Thes 1:10? the blood of Christ by which the people of faith are delivered from God's wrath to come.
6. Rahab believed and the people of the land believed in the Lord God and His power to fulfill the promises to His people, but Rahab is the only one of the land to act on the knowledge. What NT doctrine does this illustrate, James 2:20, 26? faith without works is dead.
A. How many were offered life, v. 19? Whosoever will
B. What happened to the people who refused the offer? they literally died
Thus the faith that delivers one from death must be more than just knowing about something, [Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.]
Josh 2:22-24.
The men depart immediately from Rahab's house; they were unlike most of us, for we would probably waited two days in the comforts of Rahab's house before departing. The men depart, wait the three days, then report back to Joshua everything that took place.
V. 24, they tell Joshua, Truly the Lord... The Lord did this 40 years previously. It was already delivered then; the problem was that the people did not have the faith to believe the Lord has delivered it to them. They did not have the faith to go in and take possession of what was promised; they did not have the courage to do what they had been told to do, take the land by warfare.
Anything that is worth having in our Christian life will require a fight, battle with the world, flesh and the devil. The victory, however, is already accomplished in Christ.
LORD GIVE US THE COURAGE AND FAITH TO CLAIM THAT VICTORY.
1. Of what was they confident, v. 24? that the Lord had already delivered the land to His people.
2. Though the men were confident of v. 24, what was Israel still required to do? fight and work hard to claim the land that was promised them.
A. Where is our major battle in claiming God's promises, Rom 13:14? in our own hearts.
3. Rahab wasted no time. Though she knew she still had at least three days, what did she do, v. 21? Tied the cord right then to her window. She did not wait for a "more convient time."
We must not overlook some additional key lessons from Rahab:
First, Rahab proves from the Old Testament that the true Israel of God has always been by faith: Her faith made her an Israelite of the highest order, even a forbearer of David and of the Messiah. In fact, her faith was exalted in the New Testament, and she is the only non-Hebrew listed in Heb 11 [the Hebrews did not come into existence until Abraham]. Thus Rahab is just as much a "parent" of the Godly faithful today who are in Christ as is Abraham.
Second, assuming Rahab was indeed a harlot, she shows us that God can take whomsoever He will and do whatsoever He will with them, and no man can question, "What doest thou?". He is Sovereign, and acts according to His Sovereign will. In His Sovereign will, He extended mercy to Rahab, for He could have provide protection for the spies in another way--the Lord God sent them to her, so she would be spared from the wrath to come:
Job 9:10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number... 12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? Da 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Apostate men attempts to justify God's actions--explain them away or reduce them to his own fallen level.
Conclusion of vv. 8-24:
Is there a command to obey?
Is there an example to follow?
Is there a sin to avoid?
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there an important verse for us?
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