Joshua 2 (6)

They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.” Joshua 2.22-24

Reflect.
1.  The spies were relying only on the word of a single woman. Why did they consider this sufficient?

2.  How did the report of these spies differ from Joshua’s own report forty years earlier (cf. Num. 14.6-9)?

Think about it.
The spies ascended a hill to defeat the intentions of their pursuers. Then, after three days, they descended the hill and “crossed over” to bring their report. Paul picks up on this language of ascending and descending in Ephesians 4.8-10. Can you see a prefiguring of Jesus in this?

We note that the spies first reported “all that had befallen them.” That is, they told Joshua they had not been able to see all the land, which was their commission (v. 1), but were only able to do the “especially Jericho” part of their assignment. Then, after having reported the facts of their mission, they offered their conclusion in verse 24. Note the double use of “all” in that verse. The spies were convinced by their experience that what was true in Jericho was true throughout Canaan.

Mission accomplished. In the minds of those spies, the conquest of Canaan was a done deal.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  The spies apparently regarded a sampling of the situation in Canaan as evidence that God’s Word was true, and that He had “delivered all the land” into their hands. This was a conclusion reached by faith, based on what God had promised and what they had observed on a small scale. Is there a lesson here to guide us in our walk with and work for the Lord?

2.  Meditate on 2 Peter 1.4 and 2 Corinthians 1.20. We have barely sampled the promises of God (Gen. 12.1-3). But should we regard them all as a “done deal”? Why, and what are the implications of doing so?  

3.  The spies spoke as if God had already “delivered all the land” into the hands of Joshua and Israel. Yet a good bit of work remained before that would be so. Meditate on Philippians 2.12, 13. What is the relationship between our more fully realizing the promises and salvation of God and the works for which we have been redeemed by Jesus Christ (Eph. 2.8-10)?

“Those spies, who are sent before the face of Jesus [Joshua], can also be considered the messengers of God, just as it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your paths.’” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

Pray Psalm 132.13-18.
Seek the Lord today to lay hold on more of His promised blessings and to grow and flourish as His lamp to the world.

Psalm 132.13-18 (Finlandia: Be Still My Soul)
God dwells among us, and He will forever, 
To meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior, 
And made us His eternal resting-place.
His foes are banished from His presence ever, 
But we shall reign with Him before His face.

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).