Psalm 145:3-8, 17-19
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
A. Rahab
- Rahab knew that the Lord (Yahweh) has given Israel this land, and a great fear of Yahweh’s people has fallen on all the people in the country (Josh 2:9). Rahab heard Yahweh is all-powerful, everywhere (Josh 2:10): Over nature (dried up the Red Sea); delivered the Israelites out of Egypt; destroyed powerful Amorite armies.
- Rahab believed what she knew about the Lord, confessed and acted upon her faith (Josh 2:4, 11-13, 21).
- The Lord accepted Rahab’s faith, saved her and her family from destruction and gave her a home, family and children with his people in Israel. She is the mother of Boaz (Ruth’s godly husband in the book of Ruth) and the great-great-grandmother of King David. She is also listed in Matthew 1 in the family of Jesus.
- Rahab has a place of great honor in the Bible. She is clearly identified as a prostitute and yet God accepts and blesses her for her faith. She is identified in the New Testament as an example both of great faith (Hebrews 11:31) and of great faith in action (James 2:25).
B. God’s Promise to Abram and the World
- God promised Abram 3 things which were not dependent on Abram; they were initiated and fulfilled by God:
a. Land
b. Offspring
c. Blessings – from Abram’s offspring, the whole world would be blessed.
- In the book of Joshua, God fulfills his promise of giving land to Abram’s offspring. This meant that his people, the nation of Israel, would enter the land and destroy their enemies and is referred to as “the ban.” Though this may seem strange and cruel in our culture today, it was a common practice among rival tribes and nations at the time. The ban as implemented by Israel was only to be enacted when instructed by God; he directed it and he gave victory over those who had rejected him and his people.
- The ban served several purposes of God:
a. Protection of Israel from being influenced or adopting the religions of the other nations (Deut 7:4, 16).
b. Judgment on the Canaanites (420 years of grace preceded this Gen15:16).
c. Fulfilment of God’s promises to give the land to Israel, making it a place where God’s people could live in God’s way (Gen 12:3).
- We see God’s grace and goodness in the ban:
a. Before Israel cut down one Canaanite, they made an exception for a Canaanite prostitute and her family.
b. This story is in the beginning of Joshua and shows us God’s grace to accept any people who worship the God of Israel (Rom 9:6).
c. God gave the Canaanites a fear of Israel to help them in battle.
d. The story of Joshua is primarily about God fulfilling his promise to give Israel the land and the ban was one of the ways he fulfilled this. God is the promise-keeper, God is the hero of the story.
e. God gave grace to Rahab, even though she lied.
- God fulfilled his promise to bless the world through Abram’s offspring. It is from his family that Jesus Christ came to the world, the Promised One who forgives all who believe he is the Savior who cleanses our sins. As the Lord accepted Rahab for her belief, he accepts us for ours. When we believe him, repent and confess him as Lord, we begin our eternal life in his family and he blesses us with flourishing lives as we walk with him. He wants this for his people: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10). We can be confident that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
Discussion Questions
Optional Reading in Advance: Exalting Christ in Joshua, pages 39-53.
Reflecting on this week’s message and the story of Rahab in Joshua Ch. 2, what stands out to you about “how it started” for Rahab vs. how her life ended up? What does this display about God’s character and heart?
Reflecting on your own story, “how did it start” for you? “How it’s going” in your life and journey with God today?
What area of your life is flourishing the most right now?
What area of your life feels most limited or lifeless right now, but you would like it to flourish? What would health and growth in this look like, with God’s help?
Are there any practical steps you sense God leading you to take or insights you would like to remember in response to this week’s message or group conversation?
Pray: Thank God for where He has brought you. Ask God for faith. Trusting that God is able, ask Him for help in the areas of your life where you desire growth and flourishing.
(“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10)