Joshua 2 (1)

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. Joshua 2.1

Reflect and discuss.
1.  Do you suppose Joshua would have had any reluctance in sending out these two spies? Explain. Why did he do it? 

2.  The conquest of Canaan began in the home of one of Jericho’s less-respected citizens. Is there anything in Jesus’ ministry to compare with the blessing of Rahab, and thus to connect Jesus’ work with that of Joshua?

Think about it.
We note that Joshua sent out two spies only, not twelve, as Moses had done (Num. 13). Doubtless this was because the scope of their mission was smaller, and two would have been less conspicuous. But I can’t help but think Joshua may have had his previous experience in mind as well: only two spies, he and Caleb, had been faithful forty years earlier.

The spies sought out the home of a harlot. This makes sense, because doubtless many who traveled to Jericho on business or just passing through did the same. They would not have aroused much suspicion by doing so. It is telling in many ways that God led His people into the land of promise through the agency of one of the “least of these,” rather than, say, through some powerful person. Rahab portends the fulfillment of one of God’s promises to Abram (Gen. 12.1-3) as we see the covenant blessings being extended beyond Israel to a Gentile. As Jesus hobnobbed with sinners of all sorts, so these forerunners of Israel did the same. While their motive was merely to keep from being detected, God clearly had other, larger ideas in mind (cf. Matt. 1.2-6), which would only become clear much later in the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  Sending out spies to view the land and learn the situation in Jericho made sense. Joshua wanted to know what they were up against. He would be satisfied at hearing the report of his faithful spies. Is there a principle in this, perhaps one suggested in 1 Chronicles 12.32 and Ephesians 5.15-17? Explain. 

2.  The conquest of Canaan began in the least likely of places – the parlor of a harlot. Is there a Kingdom principle at work here? Do we see anything like this in the work of the greater Joshua, our Lord Jesus? What should we learn from this?

3.  Imagine the courage those two spies must have had! How would their example have encouraged the rest of the people of Israel? How should their example encourage us?

“Jesus [Joshua], the leader, who had led the people out of Egypt; Jesus [Joshua], whose name means Savior, after the death and burial of Moses in the land of Moab in the land of Arabia—that is, after the law was dead—Jesus desires to lead his people into the gospel and sends out two men on secret mission to Jericho. Two messengers he sends: one to the circumcised; the other to the Gentiles, Peter and Paul. Jericho seeks to kill them; the harlot takes them in, meaning, of course, the church gathered together from the Gentiles.”Jerome (347-420 AD)

Lord, today You are sending me out among people who do not know You. Grant me courage, Lord, so that I…

Pray Psalm 53.
We don’t need to look upon our unsaved neighbors as fools, even though this is how God sees them. Pray that God would cause His salvation to “come out” from you, and rescue lost souls from captivity to the devil to salvation in Jesus.

Psalm 53 (Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God at all!” 
Corrupt are they in whole and part, unjust and small. 
Not one of them does good; God sees their wicked ways. 
None understands the Word of God or gives Him praise. 

Have all these wicked men no knowledge of God’s grace? 
The Church they hate with passion and seek not God’s face. 
Lord, strike their hearts with fear, where fear was not before. 
And scatter all who camp so near Your holy door. 

The wicked flee in shame; their ways our God rejects. 
Renew Your people in Your Name with great effects! 
Let great rejoicing sound once we renewed have been, 
And let salvation’s Word resound from us again!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.