Make An Impact
LEGACY • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.
Joshua is doing what Moses did years before. If you remember Moses sent Joshua and 11 others as spies and joshua and another came back with a good report about what God could do. They were full of faith and the other 10 doubted and believed it was a bad idea.
Maybe He was wide by only sending two… because if one comes back thats 50% so pretty good.
THERE IS SOMEONE INTERESTING THAT IS INSERTED INTO THIS STORY THOUGH
Just out of nowhere… like it’s no big deal. They uhhh.... stayed at the local prostitutes place.
NOW I WANT TO SET THE SCENE FOR A MOMENT AND I NEED YOU TO BE IN THE SANDALS OF RAHAB.
You live in a place that wants nothing to do with God.
No desire to follow Him. No interest in him. And for the most part people seem to go out of their way to make sure no one thinks they follow God.
You turn to something that’s going to provide. Your job is something that people in other places would look down on. But it’s whats providing.
Now you’ve heard of the LORD. Most people in this area had. I mean how could you not. and we are going to learn in a minute that in fact she had.
And you’ve for sure heard that israel, who has God on their side is coming and conquering this land that God had promised them.
and out of nowhere. on a random tuesday. In walks two men from israel. Two men that stand against the place that you live. The profession that you hold. And they are there to spy on the nation that you call home.
NOW CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.”
NOW JUST TO MAKE SURE IT’S CLEAR, THE KING SENT MEN. HE DIDN’T SEND A LETTER, OR A PIGEON. PEOPLE CAME LOOKING FOR THESE MEN AND ASKING HER QUESTIONS
So at this point wouldn’t be safe to say that RAHAB is thinking “What is happening and what did I get myself into?”
In walk these men, I agree to let them stay, now the king has sent men asking if they are here.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
And maybe you know this story. Maybe you’ve heard it a million times. But I always want us to approach the Bible like theses are real people (because they are) who had very real things happen to them (because they did).
What would you do in this moment? It’s hard to describe how this must feel right?
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!” 6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. 7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut.
THIS IS AWESOME RIGHT? SHE MADE THIS DECISION TO HIDE THESE MEN WHO WERE ON A MISSION FROM GOD AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE NOT CAUGHT.
This is awesome and a huge deal. BUT WHY DID SHE DO THIS?
WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS RANDOM WOMAN WHO IS A PROSTITUTE IN A LAND THAT WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD TO DO THIS?
She is putting her life in danger. probably her entire families life in danger. What would cause this woman to do that?
8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. 10 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 Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”
DO YOU SEE WHAT SHE SAYS HERE.
I’ve heard of the LORD. I’ve heard what He can do. And if He can do all of that, then I know that if I help you, He will save me through you.
She starts recalling back to them all the things that God has done. She’s confident in what God can do. And because of that she did what she did.
And look what they say back to her. And what ends up happening afterwards.
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. 16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear, 18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house. 19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be his own fault, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be our fault. 20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.
RAHABS VIEW OF GOD WASN’T BASED ON HER PAST
RAHAB BELIEVED THAT GOD COULD DO ANYTHING
RAHABS IMPACT WAS BIGGER THAN SHE COULD HAVE IMAGINED
2 Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram, 4 Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, 6 and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, 18 the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. 19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. 26 For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible. 28 By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. 29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.