Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the August 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.)
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Lesson Aim: Be strong and courageous; our God is a God who saves.
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By Mark Scott
Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Rahab the prostitute did that. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Rahab the prostitute experienced that. As we continue our study in Joshua and Judges this month, we focus this week on Rahab. Her name occurs 14 times in the Bible (albeit some of the references refer figuratively to Egypt or one of God’s enemies). But Rahab the person is mentioned in four books of the Bible (Joshua, Matthew, Hebrews, and James). Her name means “wide.” Even though she had been a prostitute, she married Salmon and gave birth to Boaz, which placed her in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:5).
Two passages from this book of conquest were selected for this lesson. Following God’s commission of Joshua in chapter 1, Rahab hid Israel’s spies in chapter 2. In chapters 3 and 4 Israel crossed over into the Promised Land, and in chapter 5 God’s covenant was renewed with Israel in the new land. Chapter 6 tells the story of the conquering of Jericho.
Rahab’s Lie (Joshua 2:1-7)
While Israel waited at Shittim (seven miles east of the river) to cross the Jordan, Joshua sent two spies to look over (inspect) and spy out (search) the land. Jericho was a very ancient city and a key city to rout to begin the conquest. How the spies found their way to Rahab’s house is not known. But they stayed there (lied down there). Someone squealed about the spies coming to Rahab’s house so the king sent a message to have the spies brought in (arrested?).
Rahab had hidden the men in her house, which was “part of the city wall” (2:15). Rahab told the Jericho police that the men had been there but left. That was a lie. Rahab had hidden the spies under some stalks drying on her roof. But Rahab was not commended for lying. She was commended for acting in faith (Hebrews 11:31). This was not the first time God leveraged a lie to accomplish his larger purpose (Genesis 12:13). Rahab not only lied, she gave false directions and sent the Jericho authorities on a wild-goose chase. The police headed toward the fords (passages) to the Jordan River. The city gate was shut for the night, so the Israeli spies were safe.
Rahab’s Lord (Joshua 2:8-16)
Rahab gave what amounted to a confession of faith. She switched sides and began to play for God’s team. Rahab had heard the word on the street. She must have emboldened the spies by telling them a reassuring bedtime story. She had heard of the exodus (Exodus 14). She had heard of the defeat of the kings (Numbers 21:21-25). She knew the gig was up for the nations living in the land of Canaan. Three times she referenced how great fear had fallen on them. No doubt, this caused them to remember God’s words (Exodus 23:23; Deuteronomy 2:25). As a result, Rahab acknowledged that the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
Rahab requested that the spies swear (take an oath) to show kindness (the great verb “chesed” which appears 250 times in the Old Testament—and three times in this text—meaning mercy or loving-kindness) when they conquered the city. She pleaded for her life and the lives of her family members. The spies agreed to her terms so long as she kept their secret. She helped them escape by a rope through the window—the Israelites would see the rope as they marched around the city for the next six days.
Rahab’s Liberation (Joshua 6:15-25)
God gave the Israelites very specific instructions about how to take the city of Jericho (6:1-14). When the seventh day came, the people marched around Jericho seven times, a total of perhaps three hours. On the seventh circuit, the trumpets blared and the people shouted. The wall collapsed (lie prostrate or fall flat), and they took the city. But Rahab and her clan were spared (allowed to live). The spies kept their word.
Israel was allowed to put the silver, gold, bronze, and iron into their treasury. But the devoted things (cursed things) were to be burned. The Ras Shamra tablets indicated that these devoted things were idolatrous and very licentious. Sin is desperately contagious, as Achan learned (Joshua 7:10-26), so God ordered the devoted things destroyed. Rahab was liberated, but through her womb the whole world would one day be liberated.
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Lesson study ©2019, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Lesson based on the scope and sequence, ©2019 by Christian Standard Media. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.
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