Jos-Lesson 3

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Joshua

September 21, 2015

Jos-Lesson 1

July 13, 2010

Jos-Lesson 2

July 13, 2010

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JOSHUA 2
Lesson #03
BE AN OVERCOMER THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

• Memory verse: Proverbs 18:21

• Before the Israelites could enter the Promised Land, they must have a vision, a commitment, strategic information, and a plan.
• God supplies the Vision and the plan.
• God showed the Israelites the Vision before they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
• Read Num 13:17-31
• That Vision waited forty years for fulfillment.
• That Vision must sustain Joshua’s and Caleb’s faith while they waited for God’s perfect timing.
• When the people made a promise of commitment and had obtained certain strategic information, God would supply the first battle plan.

• Read Jos 1:16-18 The people’s promise of commitment
• Read Heb 12:1
• The attitude that God seeks in believers is a willingness to move forward with God by forgetting the unbelief and failures of the past.
• To take a chance with God requires a commitment to follow in obedience.
• The people of Israel made a commitment to Joshua to be faithful and obedient to follow God’s direction in the possession of the Promised Land.
• Notice that a failure to fulfill their part meant death. (18)
• That tells us that possessing the promises of God requires our faithfulness to God.
• That tells us that unity in a group is necessary to possess God’s promises.
• Obedience is a part of faithfulness and obedience demonstrates our faith.
• God promised in Jos 1:3 that He would give them the land wherever they put their foot.
• To give them some idea of the faith that they would need, they first needed to renew the vision and gain some strategic information on which to base their faith.
• Therefore, their first task was to spy out the land. (Jos 2)

• Read Jos 2:1-14 Rahab of Jericho
• Shittim, the place of encampment
• The place where the Israelites camped before crossing the Jordan River was called Shittim.
• The name Shittim means = thorns. It was a dry, unfruitful desert area.
• The strategic city of Jericho:
• The name Jericho means = his sweet smell.
• The city was named after the Canaanite moon god named “yrh”.
• However the smell of an immoral people worshipping a pagan god was not pleasing to our God Jehovah.
• Jehovah would change this city to become a sweet smell of righteousness for our God.
• This city was the oldest inhabited city in the world. It was not an exceptionally large city, but a well-fortified one.
• The original location was 5miles west of the Jordan River.
• The city was located next to a spring of fresh water and the largest oasis in the area. This water was important to an army on the move.
• The city was the gateway to the cities of the central area of the Promised Land.
• The possession of this valuable city would protect the supply lines back to the east side of the Jordan River.
• In order to enter and take possession of the Promised Land, the city of Jericho was an essential and a strategic location.
• Joshua’s short-term goal was to spy out Jericho for this would be the first city they would have to conquer.
• The two spies used a harlot’s house and fabric shop as a “safe” house.
• This was an inconspicuous place to hide. Many men would be coming in and going out, so no one would question the presence of strange men there. Because this was not a large city, a stranger in any other place would raise questions.
• Rahab’s house was also strategically located. It was built into the wall of the city.
• Archaeologists have found part of the north wall that did not fall. This part was found with houses built into the wall just as the Bible describes.
• Who was Rahab?
• The name Rahab means = broad. This woman had a broad perspective beyond her culture and religion.
• This gentile harlot became a descendant of Jesus Christ because of her faith. (Mat 1:5)
• She probably had a fabric shop in her home, for she stored flax on her roof. This type of shop dyed fabric and hung it over the city wall to dry. Therefore, a red cord hanging from her window in the wall would not be something unusual.
• On what was Rahab’s confession of faith based? (Jos 2:9-13)
• She knew that God had given the land to the Jews.
• She used the name Jehovah Elohim. This is the Jewish name for God.
• Elohim is the name of the Creator God, the three in one.
• Jehovah is the covenant name for God.
• She said that the inhabitants of the land were doomed.
• Rumors had spread, and the people of Jericho had heard that God gave the land to Israel.
• The reputation of God was well-known to the people in the Promised Land.
• She knew that God delivered the Jews from Egypt.
• Other nations and people had heard about God’s miracle at the Red Sea.
• God had provided for the Israelites in the desert and these miracles were known by the Canaanites.
• She knew that the Israelites had victories in the desert.
• She knew that the God, Jehovah, is the one true God.
• By faith Rahab believed that the God of Israel was more powerful than the gods of the Canaanites.
• She made an appeal for mercy for her family.
• Rahab had faith in God’s ability to save her household.
• Rahab trusted the promise from the spies to save her family when the city was attacked.
• Read Heb 11:30-31

• Read Joshua 2:15-24 The escape of the two spies:
• The scarlet cord. What is the significance?
• Like hundreds of little similar illustrations in the Bible, it is a picture or type of our salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We call these types or prefigures.
• This particular event reminds us of the first Passover.
• The red cord is reminiscent of the Passover lamb’s blood on the door post. Everyone inside the house would be saved.

The First Passover	The Scarlet Cord
The red blood was applied to the door posts.	The red cord was placed in the window
Only those within the house were saved from the death angel on one specific night	Only those inside Rahab’s house were saved from death by the Israelites on one specific day.
The way of salvation was clearly marked for the Jews	The way of salvation was clearly marked for the Gentiles

• Why does God repeat this picture?
• The Passover was given specifically for the Jews.
• The scarlet cord was given specifically for the Gentiles.

• This is God’s indication that while salvation comes through the Jews via Jesus Christ, it is a gift to all people who have faith to believe. God does not show partiality. (Jos 2:1 Act 2:21).
• The red cord pictures faith with works.
• Read Jam 2:24-25
• What were Rahab’s works?
• She hid the 2 spies.
• She spoke her faith by making her request.
• She anticipated a blessing.
• She put the scarlet cord in the window as a sign.
• The red cord is a picture of the blood line of Christ.
• Rahab became the wife of Salmon, a prince of Judah.
• Her name appears in the genealogies of Jesus Christ. (Rut 4:18-22 1Chr 2:11-12 Luk 3:32 Mat 1:5)
• The red cord is a picture, type, or illustration for salvation.
• Read Heb 9:19-22
• There was safety through the red cord (Jos 2:21). Now there is safety through the red blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Heb 9:19-22)
• There was faith in a promised salvation yet unseen (Jos 2:14 Joh 20:29). All under the red cord (under the blood) shall be saved (Jos 2:18 Exo 12:22).

• What valuable information did the two spies obtain from their experience with Rahab?
• The Israelites learned that God’s miraculous reputation had preceded them to the Promised Land. (24)
• This information provided great encouragement because it is just the opposite of the bad report by the spies forty years before. The spies said that the inhabitants of the land were too strong and that the Israelites were weak. Now the inhabitants of the land say they are weak before Israel’s God.

• Application:
• How did you first come to a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

HOMEWORK
JOSHUA 3
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Joshua 2
• Examine the faith / works relationship in your own life. Have you been asking God for something but not willing to put feet to your prayers, and therefore have not seen an answer? If so, write down your prayer request. Then write down what action you need to do as a step of faith in action.

• Preparation for Joshua 3
• Read Joshua 3:1-17
• How can we know we have the presence of God in us and with us today? Find a scripture to prove it!

• Why do you think the priests were to stand in the Jordan before the water parted?

Memory verse: James 2:20