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LEARNING FROM THE PAST

Text: Joshua 2
25 January 2010

LEARNING FROM THE PAST

1. Spying out the land of Canaan in the days of Moses Numbers 13-14

a) Original plan to send out 12 spies came from the Lord Himself Numbers 13:1

b) However 10 of them did not possess the faith or the courage to conquer the land Numbers 13:31-33

c) They negatively affected the children of Israel Numbers 14:1-4

2. A New Plan obviously would be the wisest thing to consider

a) Only 2 spies sent out Joshua 2:1

b) A Different Mission

i) To reconnoitre the land (general) Joshua 2:1

ii) To check out Jericho (in particular) Joshua 2:1

HELP FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE IN CANAAN

1. The harlot Rahab hid the 2 spies Joshua 2:1-7

2. Her assessment of the feelings of Jericho

a) Jericho in terror of Invasion Joshua 2:9

b) The Deeds of the Lord Joshua 2:10

c) In fear of the Lord God of heaven and earth Joshua 2:11

d) Plea of Rahab

i) Family to be spared Joshua 2:12

ii) Immediate and extended family Joshua 2:13

e) The sign of the scarlet thread Joshua 2:21

THE REPORT OF THE TWO SPIES

1. Faith in the LORD
“Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands” Joshua 2:24a

2. Fear of the Cananites
“For indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us” Joshua 2:24b

REMEMBERING THE PROMISE OF THE LORD

“I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
I will not drive them out from before you in one year; lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.” Exodus 23:27, 29-30

1. God’s Divine Help promised

a) The Canaanites would be in fear

b) Confusion will reign in their hearts

2. God’s Divine Plan revealed

a) Slow conquest of the land

b) A swift conquest would backfire

c) Israel is to continue to increase in population and be readied to inherit the land

THINGS THAT ADD SIGNIFICANCE TO PRAYER

1. The Promises of the Lord

2. Personal assessment of the circumstances of life

3. Presence of the Lord

4. Praying with all of the above in mind