The Importance of Preparation. (Joshua 2: 1-24)

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Welcome & Study Notes: 

Welcome to Today’s Episode!

In this episode, we continue our journey through the book of Joshua, focusing on chapter 2. Last time, we saw God’s commission to Joshua and the Israelites' pledge of obedience. Today, we explore Joshua’s strategic decision to send spies into Jericho—a move that teaches us a valuable lesson about preparation in fulfilling God’s plans.

Although God had already promised victory, Joshua understood the necessity of gathering information and preparing wisely. We also encounter Rahab, a surprising yet pivotal figure, whose faith and actions secured not only her safety but also her place in God’s redemptive plan.

Study Notes: Key Themes & Lessons from Joshua 2

1. The Role of Preparation in Fulfilling God’s Will (Joshua 2:1)

2. Rahab’s Act of Faith & God’s Grace (Joshua 2:2-7)

3. Faith That Leads to Action (Joshua 2:8-24)

4. The Spies’ Report & God’s Sovereignty (Joshua 2:23-24)

Practical Takeaways:

• Preparation is key – Knowing God’s will isn’t enough; we must take practical steps to act on it.
• Faith requires action – Rahab didn’t just believe; she acted on her belief.
• God’s grace is for all – No one is beyond redemption; God can use anyone who trusts in Him.
• God is always working ahead of us – Like the spies discovered, God often prepares the way before we even arrive.

Final Thought: Rahab’s scarlet cord serves as a powerful symbol of God’s redemptive grace, pointing to Jesus Christ. Her story reminds us that no matter our past, faith in God can lead to transformation and inclusion in His plan. As we move forward in our own journeys, let’s embrace both faith and preparation, trusting that God is always ahead of us, guiding our steps.

Thanks for joining this study! Stay tuned as we continue through Joshua and uncover more about God’s faithfulness and our call to trust and obey Him.

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Chapters

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• 10:10 (Cont.) The Importance of Preparation. (Joshua 2: 1-24)

Transcript

The Importance of Preparation. (Joshua 2: 1-24)

Transcript.

Imagine being in his position, standing before God Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, as He speaks directly to you. God promises that every place your foot touches is already yours, preordained by His authority. He guarantees victory over anyone who stands in your way, and if that isn’t enough, He vows to be with you personally from here on in.

Now imagine sharing this extraordinary encounter with the people you know. The great news is they respond by making a declaration of unwavering loyalty, promising to follow your leadership to the letter, even declaring that anyone who disobeys should be dealt with in the most severe manner.

Well, the person who found himself in that position was Joshua. He might have felt invincible at that point, standing at the helm of a people ready to obey, backed by God’s power and promises.

Here’s my question: What would you do next? Would you immediately rally the people, pack up, and cross the Jordan to take the land? If God personally guaranteed your success, wouldn’t you be ready to charge ahead without hesitation?

Surprisingly, that’s not what Joshua did, but why? And that what we are going to consider today….

 Let’s look at Joshua chapter.

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So, they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

(Joshua 2: 1)

This decision seems almost anticlimactic after the dramatic oaths and promises seen yesterday at the end of chapter one.

Instead of leading an immediate charge into battle, Joshua sends spies into the land. Why? Was this a lack of faith? Was he hesitating? Or could this be part of a greater spiritual lesson God wants us to learn?

Too often it seems to me when people study this chapter their focus immediately shifts to Rahab—the prostitute who protected the spies and ultimately will became part of God’s plan, not just here and now but in the future. 

While Rahab’s story is significant, and we will get to it later I don’t believe it’s the central message of this passage.

Chapter 2 is about the strategic actions Joshua took. I also believe there’s a critical spiritual principle in this chapter, one that people often overlook but on that is essential for our own spiritual journeys.

To understand what’s happening here, we’ll divide the chapter today into three parts:

1.   The Sending of the Spies (v. 1)

2.   The Shielding of the Spies (v. 2-7)

3.   The Success of the Spies (v. 8-24)

As we walk through this passage, we’ll uncover why Joshua’s decision was more than just a military tactic. It was a demonstration of wisdom and faith—and it holds a valuable lesson for us today. 

So firstly, why did Joshua send spies at all? After the incredible promises God gave him in chapter 1, wouldn’t it make more sense to just lead the people across the Jordan immediately?

Was this an act of hesitation or doubt on Joshua’s?

I believe the answer lies in an important spiritual principle, and that is, knowing God’s will doesn’t eliminate the need for preparation.

Joshua knew God had commanded them to take the land, but he also recognized the importance of gathering practical, factual, information to carry out God’s will effectively.

This principle still applies to us today. God often reveals His plans, but we still have a responsibility to seek out the knowledge and resources necessary to act on them. Let me give you a few examples:

A Call to a particular ministry.

Sometimes people say, “I feel God is calling me to serve Him.” That’s a wonderful realization, but it’s only the beginning. A call to serve is also a call to prepare. 

Look at the examples in Scripture.

·        Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness preparing for leadership.

·        Joshua served under Moses for decades before stepping into his role. 

·        Even the Apostle Paul, after his dramatic conversion, spent years studying and preparing before beginning his missionary journeys.

In our context, preparation often means biblical education. If God is calling you into ministry, you need to research and choose a good biblical training ministry program. Ask questions, and seek advice. Knowing God’s will is step one, but preparation is step two.

God’s will for your life may feel clear, but the path requires careful preparation.

But God will is also found in the everyday life situations

Sometimes God’s will is as straightforward as needing a job. I believe for most people of working age it is God’s will for them to work—the Bible says, “If a man doesn’t work, he shouldn’t eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). Sometimes, knowing God’s will means just taking practical steps to gather information and act on it and try and find a job.

Even in everyday relationships, applying God’s will can take effort. Husbands are called to love their wives, (Ephesians 5:22). But what does that look like practically? It’s not always obvious. Some husbands may think they’re showing love when their actions are anything but loving. 

That’s where learning, asking questions, and seeking wise counsel come in. Sometimes, figuring out how to love or serve someone requires “spying out the future landscape together,” so to speak.

But, coming back to Joshua 2, that’s exactly what Joshua was doing—gathering information and he sends out two spies into the land to scout out Jericho, the first major obstacle in their future conquest of Canaan.

The Bible tells us they entered Jericho and stayed at the house of a prostitute named Rahab. Now this little detail shocks some people. 

Imagine it, two Israelite spies, on a mission from God, staying in the house of a prostitute.

Some have tried to soften this by suggesting Rahab was simply an “innkeeper,” but the original Hebrew and Greek texts make it clear—Rahab was definitely a prostitute. So why did the spies end up there?

We don’t have all the answers, but one very clear reality is that as most evangelists know sinners are often more receptive to God’s message than self-righteous people. Jesus encountered this dynamic repeatedly in His ministry. Tax collectors and sinners were open to His teachings, while the Pharisees, with their religious pride, often resisted Him. 

It was also a place where God’s grace would shine most brightly. Rahab’s willingness to hide the spies and align herself with God’s people led to her redemption—and she ultimately became part of the family line of Jesus Christ.

Rahab’s house may have been the one place where the spies could gather intelligence without immediate suspicion. 

Knowing God’s will is essential, but acting on it often requires gathering information, making plans, and taking practical steps. Like Joshua, we need to trust God’s promises while doing the preparatory work necessary to fulfill them.

The Text continues.

2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

(Joshua 2: 2-7)

So, the spies are in Rahab’s house, and she is hiding them and lying to protect them. Over the years this has become the center of many a theological and ethical discussion. 

While Rahab's lie sparks debate, the real focus I believe should be on her faith. She acknowledges the sovereignty of God, saying, "The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." This statement is profound, especially coming from a Canaanite woman living in a pagan culture.

She knew God’s name: She calls Him Lord Jehovah (YHWH), signifying a personal acknowledgment of His covenantal nature.

She knew His power: Rahab will recount the miracles—how God dried up the Red Sea and gave victory over mighty kings.

She knew His omnipresence and supremacy: She declares that God reigns over heaven and earth, recognizing His universal authority.

Her faith is remarkable because it isn’t merely intellectual acknowledgment, it compels her to act. She risks her life by hiding the spies, defying her king, and aligning herself with Israel’s God.

But there is still for many an ethical dilemma in her use of a lie

Was it justified? The passage suggests that while lying is wrong, the context highlights the complexity of moral decisions in fallen human situations. 

Biblical ethics affirm what are called absolutes—lying is inherently wrong—but acknowledges that in a broken world, individuals may face dilemmas where they must choose between two evils. 

Rahab chose to lie to protect the spies, and while her actions were pragmatic, her faith is what the Bible focus on elsewhere when talking about her. The New Testament mentions of her found in (Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25) don’t ever celebrate her deceit but just praise her faith and actions.

8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” 17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 

22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” Rahab’s plea to the spies is grounded in the concept of reciprocal kindness: "I have shown you kindness; now swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family."

(Joshua 2: 8-24)

These actions reflects Rahab’s understanding of what the Jews called, ‘covenant loyalty’, (hesed). She not just seeking to survive but she wants inclusion in the community of God’s people. 

Her actions pave the way for not only her family’s inclusion but  salvation also and her eventual place in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).

So, what are the lessons from Rahab’s inclusion on these events?

First, I think it points out that God’s grace reaches the most unexpected of people. Rahab’s background as a prostitute didn’t disqualify her from receiving God’s mercy. Instead, her faith brought her into His redemptive plan.

But faith requires action: Rahab’s belief in God led her to take risks, protect the spies, and find inclusion in God’s people. True faith manifests in obedience and also by taking brave steps.

Also note, God’s reputation precedes His people:. Rahab’s declaration that “our hearts melted” highlights how God was working even before Israel’s arrival.

Rahab acted on the truth she knew, and in doing so, she became part of God’s unfolding plan of salvation.

The spies succeeded in their mission not because of their ingenuity but because God had already prepared the way through Rahab.

The Hebrew word translated as "kindness" (hesed) is central to understanding Rahab's plea. Rahab recognizes this divine kindness and appeals for it, asking the spies to show her and her family the same covenant loyalty that she believes God extends to His people. 

This is a profound moment of faith because of three things this tells us about Rahab.

1.   Acknowledges her sinfulness: She doesn’t deny her past or her actions (as a prostitute or a liar).

2.   Recognizes God's sovereignty: She knows that Jehovah is the true God who rules over heaven and earth.

3.   Seeks grace: Her plea for kindness demonstrates her faith in God's mercy and her desire to be spared from judgment.

The New Testament affirms for us Rahab's faith was genuine and it does so in two key passages:

1.   Hebrews 11:31: Where Rahab is listed among the heroes of faith, highlighting that she believed and acted in accordance with that belief.

2.   James 2:25: Where Rahab's works are described: hiding the spies and helping them escape—demonstrate that her faith was active and genuine.

This dual emphasis on faith and works, shows the interplay between belief and action. Rahab's faith justified her before God, while her actions justified her faith before men.

Rahab’s story provides a beautiful illustration of two aspects of justification:

1.   Justification by Faith (Hebrews 11): This is the spiritual reality before God. Rahab believed in God’s power and sought His mercy.

2.   Justification/Validation by Works (James 2): This is the outward demonstration of her faith. Her actions, hiding the spies and aiding their mission, proved her faith to others.

These aren’t contradictory but complementary truths. Faith saves us before God, while works evidence/validate that faith as genuine to the world.

The spies THEN gave Rahab specific instructions:

Hang a scarlet cord in the window: This would mark her house as a place of safety during the conquest of Jericho.

Gather her family into the house: Meaning the protection could extend to allthose under the covering of her household. 

The scarlet color symbolizes the blood of Christ, shed for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). Rahab and her family’s safety inside the house mirrors the safety believers have when they are "in Christ."

This powerful image of the scarlet cord connects the Old Testament story to the New Testament’s teaching on salvation. Just as Rahab’s household was spared because of her faith and obedience, believers are spared from judgment through faith in Christ’s finished work.

The spies’ mission wasn’t just about logistics—it was about discovering what God was already doing in Jericho, and they learned two critical things whilst they were there.:

1.   The Fear of the People: Rahab’s testimony confirmed that the inhabitants of Jericho were terrified of Israel and their God. This fulfilled the prophecy from Exodus 15:14–16, where Moses predicted that the nations would tremble at the news of God’s mighty acts. Rahab recounts how the people had heard of the Red Sea crossing and Israel’s victories over the Amorite kings. She says, “Our hearts melted, and no courage remained in anyone.” This widespread fear revealed that God was preparing the way for Israel’s victory.

2.   The Faithfulness of the Lord: The spies returned to Joshua with full confidence, saying, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands.” The success of their mission confirmed that God was faithful to His promises and had already begun to deliver Canaan into Israel’s possession.

Rahab’s story is not just about her individual faith but also about God’s redemptive power:

God’s grace reaches all: Rahab’s inclusion in the line of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) underscores that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.

Rahab’s past as a prostitute didn’t disqualify her; instead, her faith made her a part of God’s plan. Her belief in God led to decisive actions that protected the spies and saved her family.

Conclusion: 

Rahab’s story teaches us that real faith is in fact, courage in action.

Faith involves recognizing who God is and trusting in His mercy. True faith is demonstrated through action, even at great personal risk.

God’s promises are sure, and His plans unfold in ways that reveal both His justice and mercy. Rahab’s faith, courage, and obedience not only saved her family but also placed her in the lineage of the Messiah, making her story a powerful testament to God’s redemptive work throughout history.

This story reminds us of the powerful truth of God’s grace: His mercy extends to anyone who calls upon Him, no matter their past. Whether it’s Rahab in the Old Testament—a woman justified by her faith and actions or in fact any sinner today whose damaged life is transformed by God’s mercy.

The message remains the same: God saves those who acknowledge their brokenness and turn to Him.

Rahab’s scarlet cord, a symbol of God’s salvation, points us directly to the blood of Christ, through which we are redeemed. 

The practical takeaway for us is that when we step out in obedience to God, we will encounter moments of grace and opportunities to reflect His love. Along the way, God will bring people into our lives who need His mercy, just as we do. In those moments, we are reminded of His faithfulness and kindness.

The journey of faith is not instant but a process, a step-by-step transformation, much like the gradual conquest of the Promised Land.

But, God’s grace is always sufficient to redeem and restore us. He uses our brokenness for His glory, showing us that no one is beyond the reach of His mercy. 

This is the truth of the gospel: God’s amazing grace saves sinners, sustains us in our walk of faith, and transforms our lives for His purpose. And that is a truth worth holding onto.