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Joshua 2 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country.

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Joshua sent two spies to bring back a report on the city of Jericho, the first enemy in their path.

Some might argueargue that this was unnecessary, even an act of doubtdoubt or unbeliefunbelief.

God had promisedpromised to be with themwith them and give them victoryvictory over every enemy.

And, it was a riskrisk; what if they brought back an evil reportevil report as the ten had done 40 years before.

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Joshua didn't knowdidn't know anything about Rahab.

He didn't even know that she existedshe existed.

But he knew to obey Godobey God; to do whateverwhatever God saidGod said for him to do.

He sent spies into Jericho.

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1b And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

How did that

happen?

He didn'tdidn't lead them there to have sexsex.

2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country.

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The King of Jericho had spies toospies too.WhyWhy didn't God prevent his men being seen?

That wasn't His PlanThat wasn't His Plan!God's Plan was to save Rahabsave Rahab:

a paganpagan and a harlotharlot,

Who would become a direct ancestordirect ancestor of Jesus Christof Jesus Christ.

3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

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The king didn't justjust know they were in the city;

He knew exactlyexactly where they went.

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

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She didn't havehave to lie, but lying was what she knewwhat she knew.

God has just begunbegun to bring her to Himself.

She is not yetyet changed.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 7And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

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8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 9And she said unto the men, I knowI know that the LordLord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LordLord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

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11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, He is God in Heaven above, and in earth beneath.

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Only Rahab put her faithher faith in the True God.

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James 2 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Faith lies dormantdormant until acted upon.

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Like a dormant volcano:

There's fire below, but nothing's happening.

All of Jericho knew of Israel's God: His Power and Might.

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Only Rahab came to Know Know HimHim.We must put our faithour faith in God, livingliving life His Way,

to be savedsaved from the dominion of sin over us.

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: 13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

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Rahab's faith covered her family as far as saving them from the destructiondestruction of the city.

But they would have to use their own faithown faith to become the children of God.

Are you surprised that God would go to this this much troublemuch trouble to save one soul?

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There is no such thing as too much troubletoo much trouble where God sees a seed of faithseed of faith in a heart.

Deepest Jungle

Labor for a lifetimelifetime in a small local church

To see oneone soul saved.

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In the Mind of God, one Rahabone Rahab is worth it all.

Jesus would have died for one lost soul to be saved.

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Are you willing?Are you willing to laborlabor in whatever fieldfield

GodGod has planned for you?

Not for some measurementmeasurement of success that we imposewe impose upon a situation.