Bible Reading
Joshua 2:1-24 “Then 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 mother, my brothers and 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 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. And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”
[32:56]Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
[41:34]1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
[01:00:59]Observation questions
- What details in Joshua 2 show the danger Rahab faced when the king of Jericho demanded that she hand over the spies? [37:27]
- What actions did Rahab take to protect the spies, and what did she ask for in return for her family?
- What past acts of God does Rahab mention as the reason Jericho’s people were afraid?
- What specific conditions did the spies give Rahab concerning the scarlet cord and the people who would be protected in her house? [51:43]
Interpretation questions
- Rahab had a painful past and an unlikely place in Jericho, yet she became part of God’s saving work. What does her story reveal about who can turn to God and receive mercy? [33:09]
- Rahab chose to fear God more than the king who had power over her life. How does this help explain why the fear of the Lord is called the beginning of wisdom?
- Rahab trusted God’s future victory because she had heard about His past faithfulness. How can remembering God’s past work change the way believers face an unresolved problem today? [47:45]
- The agreement around Rahab’s house included clear boundaries and personal responsibility. What does this part of the story communicate about taking God’s warnings seriously rather than treating sin casually? [54:09]
Application questions
- Is there a past failure, sin, or painful chapter that still feels like it defines you? What would it look like to bring that part of your story honestly before the God of second chances? [30:06]
- What “little king” most often shapes your decisions—fear of failure, people’s opinions, a boss, finances, comfort, or something else? Where might that fear be competing with your trust in God? [40:47]
- Think of a current challenge that has tempted you to worry about every possible outcome. What are a few specific ways you can remember God’s faithfulness and place the unknown outcome in His hands this week? [48:01]
- Is there an area of compromise that you have treated as manageable or harmless? What boundary could help you stop playing with it before it gains greater control? [57:05]
- The things of this world promise satisfaction but cannot finally deliver it. What temporary thing are you most tempted to look to for security or happiness, and how can Christ’s victory reset your hope? [49:58]
- Christ has conquered death and risen from the grave. How does that truth speak to one fear you are carrying right now, and what would trusting His victory look like in a practical next step? [01:00:53]
