Bible Reading
Joshua 2:1-24 “And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and my mother, my brothers and my sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.”
[01:07]Joshua 6:22-25 “But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”
[05:20]Hebrews 11:31 “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
[20:26]Observation questions
- What had Rahab and the people of Jericho heard about Yahweh’s actions for Israel, and how had those reports affected them?
- What specific confession does Rahab make about Yahweh, and what does she ask the spies to do for her family? [08:35]
- What actions show that Rahab’s faith involved more than simply agreeing that Yahweh was real? [10:02]
- After Jericho falls, what happens to Rahab, her household, and their place among Israel? [05:31]
Interpretation questions
- Both Rahab and the king of Jericho had heard of Yahweh’s power. Why does Rahab’s response lead toward mercy while the king’s response leads toward resistance? [11:24]
- What does Rahab’s rescue and later life among Israel show about the difference between being removed from danger and being brought into God’s people? [06:48]
- Hebrews remembers Rahab’s faith alongside her welcome of the spies. What does her story suggest about the relationship between faith in God and actions that show allegiance to him? [20:26]
- Rahab asks for mercy not only for herself but also for her household. What does this reveal about how God’s mercy can affect families and relationships, not merely isolated individuals?
Application questions
- Is there an area where vague belief in Jesus has allowed a person to remain in the “middle,” without taking a clear step of allegiance to him? What might a faithful next step look like? [10:18]
- Rahab left behind Jericho’s false security—its walls, leaders, and gods. What false sources of security are most tempting today, and how can a person actively place trust in Christ instead? [02:52]
- God’s mercy brings people home rather than leaving them alone after a crisis. When has someone helped this group or church community feel like a home rather than a place to be managed? How can that kind of welcome grow? [19:18]
- A woman facing a fearful pregnancy may also be carrying financial strain, isolation, pressure from others, and uncertainty about the future. What are practical ways this group could help provide dignity, support, and friendship for mothers, fathers, children, and families? [15:39]
- What gifts, resources, or relationships could be offered to make the church a genuine house of refuge—perhaps prayer, a ride, childcare, meals, diapers, financial help, or ongoing friendship? Which of these could be a realistic next step? [24:35]
- Rahab’s story shows that Christ can receive broken people and give them a future. Is there shame, failure, or sin that needs to be brought honestly into Christ’s light rather than kept at the edge? What would it look like to seek help and walk in that light? [24:09]
