Joshua Day 2
Read Joshua 2.
Last time the Israelites sent spies into the Promised Land, it didn’t turn out too well. In Numbers, they were so terrified of how large the Canaanites were that they retreated. Because of this lack of trust, amongst other struggles, they had to wander through the wilderness for 40 years before coming back. Now they are back and things go very differently on this second spying expedition. The Israelites meet a woman that lives in Jericho, her name is Rahab the prostitute.
Rahab welcomes in the Israelites to her home and even lies to the king’s servants when they question her about the Israelite men’s whereabouts. This bold action could have very well caused Rahab her life, but in faith, she acts in boldness. We learn a little more about her faith in the next few verses.
Joshua 2:8-11
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
Although Rahab wasn’t an Israelite and she didn’t personally know this God yet, she had seen Him move and heard of His miracles. She had faith that He was the one true God. Hundreds of years before Jesus, Rahab points to gospel of Jesus Christ. That God would save us on behalf of our faith. The most striking detail of this story to me, is that this is a woman that is known by her sin. As the book of Joshua is recorded, the way she is recognized, and the way people know her is “Rahab the prostitute”. Yet this woman known only by her sin, is known to God as a daughter made perfect and holy through the blood of Jesus, all because of her faith in God.
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Today, you can be encouraged that God doesn’t save you, love you or continue to relate to you based on your actions or your past. He relates to you and saves you based on your faith. You aren’t known to Him by your sin, but by your faith.
Questions to consider.
If you were known by your sin, what would you be known as, “____ the _____”. Write down anything that comes to mind.
Now thank God you don’t have to be known by your sin, you are known by the blood of Christ and His sacrifice through faith. Are there days where you feel like your sin is how God sees you? How can you remind yourself on those days that it’s not how He sees you?
Pray and thank God for sending His son. Ask for forgiveness from any sins you’ve committed and ask Him for the strength to keep living for Him and growing in your faith!
Last time the Israelites sent spies into the Promised Land, it didn’t turn out too well. In Numbers, they were so terrified of how large the Canaanites were that they retreated. Because of this lack of trust, amongst other struggles, they had to wander through the wilderness for 40 years before coming back. Now they are back and things go very differently on this second spying expedition. The Israelites meet a woman that lives in Jericho, her name is Rahab the prostitute.
Rahab welcomes in the Israelites to her home and even lies to the king’s servants when they question her about the Israelite men’s whereabouts. This bold action could have very well caused Rahab her life, but in faith, she acts in boldness. We learn a little more about her faith in the next few verses.
Joshua 2:8-11
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
Although Rahab wasn’t an Israelite and she didn’t personally know this God yet, she had seen Him move and heard of His miracles. She had faith that He was the one true God. Hundreds of years before Jesus, Rahab points to gospel of Jesus Christ. That God would save us on behalf of our faith. The most striking detail of this story to me, is that this is a woman that is known by her sin. As the book of Joshua is recorded, the way she is recognized, and the way people know her is “Rahab the prostitute”. Yet this woman known only by her sin, is known to God as a daughter made perfect and holy through the blood of Jesus, all because of her faith in God.
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Today, you can be encouraged that God doesn’t save you, love you or continue to relate to you based on your actions or your past. He relates to you and saves you based on your faith. You aren’t known to Him by your sin, but by your faith.
Questions to consider.
If you were known by your sin, what would you be known as, “____ the _____”. Write down anything that comes to mind.
Now thank God you don’t have to be known by your sin, you are known by the blood of Christ and His sacrifice through faith. Are there days where you feel like your sin is how God sees you? How can you remind yourself on those days that it’s not how He sees you?
Pray and thank God for sending His son. Ask for forgiveness from any sins you’ve committed and ask Him for the strength to keep living for Him and growing in your faith!