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[0:00] And this morning we are going to be again in the book of Joshua. You might like to turn with me now as we come to our Bible reading. Paul last week was looking at Joshua chapter 1 and again this morning we're back in Joshua and this week in chapter 2.
[0:16] Joshua chapter 2 and I'm going to read the whole chapter together. If you're not familiar with chapter 1 you can read that during the offering time a little later.
[0:27] But I'll dive straight in at chapter 2 verse 1. Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies saying go view the land especially Jericho.
[0:43] And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and they lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho behold the men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.
[0:55] And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab saying bring out the men who have come to you who entered your house. For they have come to search out all the land. But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.
[1:10] And she said true the men came to me. But I didn't know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark the men went out. I don't know where the men went. Pursue them quickly for you'll overtake them.
[1:23] But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she'd laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords.
[1:38] And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. Before the men laid down she came up to them on the roof and said to the men. I know that the Lord has given you the land.
[1:53] And that the fear of you has fallen upon us. And that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came up out of Egypt.
[2:05] And what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan. To Sihon and Og whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it our hearts melted.
[2:17] And there was no spirit left in any man because of you. For the Lord your God. He is God in the heavens above. And on the earth beneath. Now then please.
[2:30] Swear to me by the Lord that as I have dealt kindly with you. You also will deal kindly with my father's house. And give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters.
[2:42] And all who belong to them. And deliver our lives from death. And the men said to her. Our life for yours. Even to death.
[2:54] If you do not tell this business of ours. Then when the Lord gives us the land. We will deal kindly and faithfully with you. Then she let them down by a rope through the window.
[3:08] For her house was built into the city wall. So that she lived in the wall. And she said to them. Go to the hills. Or the pursuers will encounter you.
[3:19] And hide there. Three days. Until the pursuers have returned. And then afterward you may go your way. The men said to her. We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours.
[3:31] That you have made us swear. Behold. When we come to the land. You shall tie this scarlet cord in the window. Through which you let us down. And you shall gather your house.
[3:42] Your father and mother. Your brothers. And all your father's household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house. Into the street. His blood will be on his own head. And we'll be guiltless.
[3:52] But. If a hand is laid on anyone who is with you. In the house. His blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours.
[4:05] Then we shall be guiltless. With respect to your oath. That you've made us swear. And she said. According to your words. So be it. And she sent them away.
[4:16] And they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord. In the window. They departed. And went into the hills. And remained there. Three days. Until the pursuers returned.
[4:28] And the pursuers searched. All along the way. And found nothing. Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills. Passed over. And came to Joshua.
[4:38] The son of Nun. And they told him. All that had happened. To them. And they said to Joshua. Truly. The Lord has given. All the land.
[4:50] Into our hands. And also. All the inhabitants of the land. Melt away. Because of us. Amen. And may God.
[5:01] Bless to us. His word. Word. Morning folks. And please do. Turn up Joshua chapter 2 again.
[5:11] In your Bibles. Whether you're here or at home. And please have that open. In front of you. As we spend a few minutes. Thinking about God's. Astonishing. Grace. To the most unlikely of people.
[5:24] So Joshua chapter 2. Please do have that open. Now this really is a quite remarkable. Chapter. For. Well many reasons. But two in particular. First.
[5:35] In a sense. This chapter. Doesn't need to exist. At the end of chapter 1. Which we're looking at last week. We're on the brink. Of battle.
[5:47] God's people were preparing. To cross over the Jordan. And to take the land. You could easily jump. From the end of chapter 1. To the start of chapter 3.
[5:57] With no break at all. In the narrative. You wouldn't really miss anything. You wouldn't. You wouldn't. So chapter 2. Could almost be ripped out. And you'd never know. So why is it here?
[6:09] Clearly. The author included it. For a very good reason. Even though. It doesn't add a huge amount. To the great narrative. Of the book. So a big question we have in our minds.
[6:21] Is why is it even here? Second. It's a remarkable chapter. Because it focuses not. On Israel. Doesn't focus on Joshua.
[6:33] But it focuses. On one. Canaanite. Canaanite. And not just any Canaanite. But a prostitute. Sure. The king of Jericho.
[6:43] Gets a mention. But the focus. Is on Rahab. A total outsider. And that is truly astonishing. What is this all about?
[6:55] Why is Joshua chapter 2. In our Bibles. Now it's a very. Carefully structured. Passage. It's a bit like a sandwich. It's a full Copeland special.
[7:06] He likes sandwiches. And it begins. And ends. With the spies. That's how it begins. That's how it ends. And in the middle.
[7:17] The real meat of the sandwich. Are the actions. And words. Of Rahab. The outsider. The prostitute. She. Takes center stage. That's where the bulk.
[7:28] Of the story focuses. So we're going to think about that first. We'll think about the meat. And then we'll think about the bread. On either side. So we're going to look. At the meat of the chapter.
[7:39] From the middle of verse 1. Right down to verse 21. So it's most of the chapter. And we're going to think about that first. And we see in this middle section.
[7:49] We see in the meat of the sandwich. The astonishing God. Who shocks us. With his grace. And we see. And we see. In this remarkable chapter.
[8:02] That there is a battle looming. That's on the horizon. There's a great judgment coming. On the people of Canaan. But not before. A total outsider is saved.
[8:14] From the coming judgment. It's a huge surprise. Isn't it? We think. It's going to be a story. All about. Military reconnaissance. Don't we? But as it turns out.
[8:26] The Lord is busy. At work. Saving. A Canaanite woman. It's a reminder. Of God's great promises made to Abraham.
[8:37] That we heard about at the start. That we sung about. Those great promises made to him. Not just. That God would give him a people. And a place. But also that his people would be a blessing to the nations.
[8:51] And that those who bless Israel. Will themselves be blessed. It's yet another example here. At the start of Joshua. That God is keeping all of his promises.
[9:05] Not just. Promises of a great kingdom. But of grace. Shown to real people. Grace shown.
[9:16] To a prostitute. From Jericho. So let's trace the action. Of this chapter. And it really is. The stuff of Bond. Isn't it? You can imagine this being. In the next Bond film.
[9:27] It has everything. Intrigue. Suspense. A few close shaves. A dramatic escape. And it begins. As Joshua sends out. Two spies.
[9:39] Which in itself. Is calls for alarm. You see the last time. That spies were sent out. Into Canaan. It did not end well.
[9:50] Did it? We perhaps wonder. Is this a wise move to make? The last time they did it. It resulted in God's people. Becoming fearful.
[10:01] And turning away. They didn't enter the land. Forty years previous. Is it the wise thing to do? Well look on. There's a river crossing by stealth.
[10:13] And then into the stronghold of Jericho itself. But things. Seem to go downhill. Pretty quick from that point. The spies end up in a brothel. And somehow. The king of Jericho finds out.
[10:26] And he knows what they're doing. The tension. Is running high. How will the spies. Get out of this corner? It looks like it's the end.
[10:36] The king knows where they are. And they're there in Jericho. Will they make it back to Joshua? Will it be. Like it was.
[10:47] Forty years. All over again. They've come so close. And yet so far. Well the tension builds. And enter.
[10:58] Rahab. And she takes. Center stage. And in her story. Not only do we see the bigger picture. Of the safe return of the spies.
[11:09] The encouraging report. They're able to bring back to Joshua. But we also see. The astonishing God. Who shocks us. With his grace. In the faith of an outsider.
[11:21] So the king. We see. Has heard. Verse 2. About the spies. He knows where they are. And so he sends around the Jericho. Cops. To Rahabs. What will she do?
[11:34] Well. She deflects. The officers. She's already hidden the spies. And she says. Yes. These men were here. I've no idea who they really were.
[11:45] But they've gone. Not long ago. If you're quick. You'll catch them. Quick. Off you go. She deceives. Now let's not be sidetracked.
[11:56] By Rahab's deception. The text itself. Is silent. On her actions. It makes no evaluation. It just tells it as it is.
[12:08] But the main point. Is that. By hiding the spies. By deflecting. The Jericho cops away. She demonstrates.
[12:20] A change. Of allegiance. She could easily. Have given the men up. Avoiding the risk. Of deceiving the officers. Avoiding the risk. Of the men being found.
[12:30] On her property. But. She doesn't do that. She doesn't dob them in. She aligns herself. With. The spies. From Israel. In fact.
[12:41] Hebrews 11. In the New Testament. Identifies. Her friendly. Welcome of the spies. As an indication. Of her faith. Her actions. Evidenced.
[12:51] The reality. Of her change. In loyalty. What on earth. Has happened to Rahab. That she would do this. Why would she risk.
[13:02] Everything. Why would she risk. The king of Jericho. Finding out. What has happened. To Rahab. Well. Look on.
[13:13] To the next scene. Where we see. Rahab. Creeping up. Onto the roof. To speak to the spies. So there. In verse 8 and 9. You see. Why it is.
[13:23] That Rahab. Has done this. Why it is. That she protected. These men. And in this. Extraordinary. Confession. We see. That Rahab. Has come to know.
[13:34] About the Lord. She has come to know. About his mighty acts. Done for his people. And these words. Show us. Why. Rahab. Throws herself. In the Lord's mercy. Why she shifts.
[13:45] Her loyalty. From Jericho. To Joshua. And we see. That she knows. Look at verse 8. She knows. That the Lord.
[13:56] Has given Israel. The land. She knows. That the fear of Israel. Has fallen on everyone. She knows. That all the inhabitants.
[14:07] Of Jericho. They are fearful. Their hearts. Are melting away. Before Israel. She knows. That Jericho. The whole land. Is about to face defeat.
[14:19] It's about to be crushed. She knows. That there is a certain. Coming judgment. And she knows this. Because. Look at verse 10. She's heard.
[14:31] About the mighty acts of God. She's heard. About the crossing of the Red Sea. She's heard about the exodus from Egypt. She's heard about the defeat of the two kings.
[14:44] On the other side of the Jordan. You see the news. Of the mighty acts of God. Had reached Jericho. And look at verse 11.
[14:57] Their hearts. Melted. It was hearing. About the mighty acts of God.
[15:09] That was the basis. Of Rahab's faith. And that's always the way it is. Isn't it? Biblical faith. Is based on testimony. Of God's acts.
[15:20] It's based. On his actions. In history. And that's how it was for Rahab. She had heard things about what God had done. And she responded to that.
[15:33] In faith. Faith has its basis. In the facts of what God has done for his people. And that is how people come to faith then. And today. But it doesn't stop.
[15:46] Does it? Just at hearing. About what God has done. It doesn't stop at hearing testimony. What Rahab heard. Led her to confess.
[15:58] The supreme sovereignty. And the majesty of the Lord. Look at the second half of verse 11. She says. For the Lord your God. He is the God on the heavens above.
[16:11] On the earth beneath. Do you see what she's saying here? She's identifying the God of Israel. As the God. In the heavens and the earth.
[16:21] He alone. Is the Lord. There is no one else like him. That is what Rahab has come to realize. She knows that the whole earth.
[16:31] Belongs to him. And that if he wants to give Israel. Jericho and Canaan. Nothing is going to stop him doing it. If Israel's God.
[16:44] Really is the God of all the earth. Then he can give them Jericho. There's nothing we can do about it. And she believes.
[16:57] Perhaps. More surely. Than many of Joshua's own army. That God really is giving Canaan. Into his hands. And she knows what that means.
[17:09] She knows that means. It's judgment. For her city. For her nation. And so she does the only things. That she can do. There's no other option for Rahab.
[17:20] But to seek refuge. In the Lord. She's heard about him. She knows what he's coming to do. And so she seeks refuge. Look down at verse 12.
[17:32] She flings herself. On God's mercy. In the face. Of the coming judgments. She seeks refuge. From God.
[17:43] In God. God. And it's not just a case. Of her confession. Of the truth about God. Faith is more. Than just words on lips.
[17:55] It also means loyalty. Loyalty to God. And to his people. God. And that meant for Rahab. That meant not.
[18:06] Betraying the spies. It meant. Tying that red cord. To her window. It meant. Gathering her whole household. In her home. Under that roof.
[18:17] With the protection. Of that scarlet. Raw cord. In her window. You see. In all of this. In addition to her words. With her actions.
[18:29] Rahab demonstrates. Real faith. See. Real faith. Is. Tangible. It's visible. It's real life.
[18:41] Loyalty. To Christ. And to his people. It can be difficult. Can't it. To really pin down. Define. What faith is. But. The New Testament.
[18:53] Commends. Rahab. For what she did here. She. She is commended. For her faith. She is an example. Of faith. We saw that in Hebrews. And also. In James. He speaks of Rahab.
[19:04] In a passage. All about faith. And he's basically saying. Do you want to know. What real faith is. Do you want to know. What saving faith is. Well. Just consider Rahab.
[19:16] Look at what she said. And did. That's real faith. Her faith. Was demonstrated. By her. Action of allegiance. To the Lord.
[19:27] And. These two spies. Standing with them. Throwing her lot. In with them. Risking everything. For them. See.
[19:39] It's not about. The right. Evangelical language. Not about. Using the right. Formulas. Is it. Jesus. Plenty. Of religious Pharisees. Had that. But they hated Jesus.
[19:50] Didn't they. They had all the right theology. But they hated him. But blind beggars. Got up and followed him. They wanted to be with him.
[20:00] They loved him. They wanted to be among his people. Well that's. Faith. That's real. Faith. Some Christians. Are just so obsessed. Aren't they. About. Being able to articulate.
[20:12] All the right. Evangelical language. Well they don't. Believe people are real. True Christians. So they can't articulate things. In a certain way. But the spies. Didn't care about that.
[20:22] Did they. Rahab's actions. Spoke. Far louder than her words. And it saved her. You see.
[20:34] Faith. Cannot be separated. From the actions. Of allegiance. To the Lord. And his people. And we see. A few chapters later. You flick on to chapter six.
[20:46] You learn. That Rahab. The pagan prostitutes. Chapter six. Verse 25. She was indeed. Saved. With her whole family. When Joshua.
[20:58] And his army. Came sweeping. Into Jericho. She. And her family. Alone. Were spared. She was saved. She was included.
[21:10] Marvelously. In the people of God. This. Total outsider. This pagan prostitute. She was saved. And it's truly shocking.
[21:21] Isn't it? It's astonishing. That God. In his grace. Would save. Someone like that. Three implications.
[21:34] As we think about God's grace. First. As we see this story. As we see. This remarkable. Confession of Rahab. First.
[21:44] First. We are to marvel. At God's grace. Marvel at his grace. Even. To a woman. From Jericho's. Red light district. If he can do that.
[21:58] Don't write. Anybody off. He showed his grace. To this woman. He chooses. The sort of people.
[22:08] That. That. We would write off. In a millisecond. You see. From a human point of view. Her prospects. Were not good. Were they? She was a Canaanite. In Jericho.
[22:20] A city. That was destined. For destruction. And yet. Chapter six. She saved. But the Lord. Showed his marvelous grace.
[22:32] To her. And she is welcomed. Into God's people. And this is how God works. It's how he's always worked. You read through Genesis.
[22:42] Time and time again. He shows his grace. To the most unlikely of people. Doesn't he? That's how he's always worked. And that's how he works now. Because he delights.
[22:54] To save sinners. And don't you find it so encouraging. When the Lord. Is at work. In the life. Of an individual. That you know.
[23:04] Somebody you've long. Prayed for. Perhaps. A child. Who for many years. Has seemed disinterested. And on the fringes. When they at last.
[23:16] Throw their lot in. With the Lord. And his people. Perhaps. It's the sort of person. That you might turn your nose up at. Couldn't possibly be them.
[23:27] Could it? God couldn't want them. Amongst his people. People. Or perhaps. It's somebody who. Seemingly has it all together. Worldly success.
[23:39] They wouldn't be interested. Surely. But you see. The church. Is a refuge. For sinners. Isn't it? It is for people.
[23:51] Just. Like. Rahab. So let's not fall into the trap. Of thinking that the church. Is the place. For the finished articles. It is not a place.
[24:02] Where perfection. Is going to be achieved. It's not a place. Where everyone. Is going to be. Able to articulate. The core doctrines. Of the faith. Just as you would like. Just think of many.
[24:15] Of our Iranian. Brothers and sisters. Many of them. Cannot give. An extensive. Reasons. Explanation. Of their faith. And yet. They've thrown their lot in. With his people. With us.
[24:30] We're not going to see. Or expect. People who look. Just like me. To come into church. It's for all. Isn't it? God's church.
[24:41] Is not. A hospital. It is a hospital. For the sick. Isn't it? It's not a catwalk. For the perfect. And we can think. It can be like that. Sometimes. We've got to get ourselves.
[24:52] All sorted out. Before we can come to church. No. The church. It's a hospital. For the sick. We are. A rescue lifeboat. Pulling up people. Who are drowning.
[25:05] We're not some sort of. Crew ship. Where it's all nice. And comfortable. No. It's like Josh was saying earlier. We are. Crew. Working on a lifeboat. Pulling up people.
[25:15] Who are drowning. Now. If we're honest. With ourselves. For just a few moments. Then we'll know. As we look around this room.
[25:27] That. The hostel is. That the church is. A hospital for the sick. And if we're honest. For a few more seconds. Then we'll realize. Actually.
[25:37] That's just me. Isn't it? I desperately need. God's help. And his grace. It's only. By the grace of God. That we are included.
[25:47] In his family. So will you marvel. Marvel at God's grace. He showed it to Rahab. And he showed it to people. Just like you and me.
[25:59] And he can show it to others. So marvel at his grace. That's the first thing. Second. If you haven't already. Then throw yourself. On God's grace.
[26:12] You see. Rahab knew. That God was sovereign. She had been faced. Hadn't she. With the reality. Of a God. Who was about to judge. Her entire city.
[26:23] And she was rightly afraid. She knew what was coming. In fact. All of Jericho. Is fearful. Of what is about to fall. Upon their city. But unlike. The rest.
[26:35] Of Jericho. Who knew as much. As she did. You see. Everyone was. Was fearful. But Rahab. Didn't. In her fear. Harden her opposition.
[26:49] She doesn't do that. Does she. Rather than hardening herself. She falls upon. God's mercy. She had no choice. But to risk everything.
[26:59] On the mercy of God. By seeking a place. Amongst his people. She has no idea. If those spies. Will keep their word. If they'll be saved.
[27:10] But she stakes all. In hope. And she finds. In the end. That is. Even for her. A door open. You see.
[27:20] To the one who knocks. It will be opened. Anyone who knocks. And that's grace. You see.
[27:32] When people come. To the reality. Of their sin. Before. A holy God. They might. Rightly fear. And wonder. Can there.
[27:42] Possibly be. Acceptance. For me. Perhaps. Especially so. For Rahab. Working.
[27:53] In the red light district. But the answer. Is yes. There is. Grace. For all. Who throw themselves. Upon God's grace. Upon Christ. And perhaps.
[28:04] Perhaps. That's you. Here this morning. Perhaps. That's you. You've come. Face to face. With the reality. Of your sin. You've come.
[28:15] Face to face. With the living God. You've heard. The testimony. Of his acts. In history. You're convicted. That the. He is. Who he says he is. The sovereign.
[28:25] Lord of all the earth. You know. That there is. A judgment coming. There is. An eternity. There is. A heaven. There is. A hell. Well.
[28:38] If that's you. Will you. Seek. Refuge. In him. Will you. Fling. Yourself. Upon his. Grace. Grace. And if that's you.
[28:50] This morning. Then don't let it pass. Without speaking. To someone. Maybe the person. That brought you here. This morning. Perhaps one of the.
[29:04] Welcome team. Or. Chat to me. Or someone. Who's hosting online. We'd love to help you. But if. If. If God is. Addressing you.
[29:15] This morning. Then don't let it pass. Throw yourself. On his mercy. Nobody is beyond. God's grace. All you need to. Is turn.
[29:25] And fling yourself. Upon him. But there's a third. Implication. And it's this. Do not. Presume.
[29:37] On God's grace. You see. For Rahab. To. Make. No choice. Or to choose. To side. Against the Lord.
[29:47] And his people. As all of Jericho. Does. That is to face. Certain disaster. You see. There is no other way. To escape. The coming judgment.
[29:58] Than to fling yourself. Upon God's grace. There's no. Special exemptions. There's no. Appeals to impunity. unity. But even.
[30:09] The greatest. Unlikeliest. Outsider. God. Can call. And bring. Into his story. The marvel. Is that Rahab.
[30:20] Is not. Just recorded. Here in Joshua. Not only. Is she wonderfully. Included. In God's people. You see that. In chapter six. But. She is an ancestor.
[30:30] Of Jesus Christ. She's right there. In the first page. Of the New Testament. In Matthew's. Genealogy. What astonishing grace.
[30:42] To even the most. Unlikely of people. Astonishing. That she. Would be touched. By God's grace. And used. For his eternal. Purposes.
[30:53] To be the mother. Of children. That would one day. Lead. To the promised child. The seed of the woman. Long promised. How extraordinary. That she would play.
[31:04] A role in that. That she would play. A role in God's plans. To bring forgiveness. Of sin. To bring everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ. She's there. Matthew chapter one.
[31:17] Isn't that extraordinary? Well there's. The story of Rahab. That's the real meat. Of this chapter.
[31:29] Extraordinary. Isn't it? That amidst the big picture. Of what's going on. In the book of Joshua. That we would zoom in. On one woman. Rahab. God is truly.
[31:41] Full of grace. Isn't he? Well that's the meat. Let's finish with the bread. On either side. So we're looking at the very first verse. And the last few.
[31:52] And we see here. That the. As well as being a God. Of great grace. He is the God. He is the God. Who stoops down. To bear with his fearful people.
[32:04] So we're zooming back. We've been focusing in on Rahab. And it's as if the camera. Is zooming away. From Rahab's house. Imagine you're on Google Maps. You've been zooming in there.
[32:15] You're. In the wall of Jericho. And Rahab's house. And we zoom out. And we zoom out. We see all of Jericho. We come back a bit further. And see the river Jordan. And then we see there.
[32:25] The great camp. Of the army of Israel. Preparing for conquest. What's the big picture. For the book of Joshua. Well it's this.
[32:36] Look again at the spies report. There in verse 24. They've made it back to Joshua. And here's what they say. Truly. The Lord has given all the land.
[32:50] Into our hands. And also. All the inhabitants of the land. Melt away. Because of us. What an encouraging report.
[33:03] Josh. Jericho. They say. Is. Already defeated. The people are melting away. In fear. And that is just. The sort of thing. You want to hear.
[33:14] Before going into battle. They're quaking in their boots. Fearful. Now I don't have much. Personal experience.
[33:24] Of battle. You can probably tell. But. When it came to football. At school. Nothing would give us. More confidence. Than knowing. That the opposition. Were quaking in their boots.
[33:35] Rumors had gone around. That we were the. Unbeatable team. In the league. And that emboldened us. Gave us courage. To know. That the opposition. Were quaking in their boots. You see.
[33:45] God didn't have to give. Joshua. And the people. This great encouragement. Did he? He didn't have to. Give this encouraging report. Report. But how emboldening.
[33:58] It would have been. To have received that report. From the spies. See God had already. Hadn't he? Promised the land. Look back in chapter one. He had promised.
[34:09] Over and over. I'm giving you this land. He had promised. To be with them. To never leave. Or forsake them. But he indulges.
[34:19] Their weakness. He graciously removes. All of their doubts. With the events. Of chapter two. You see. He confirms. To them.
[34:30] What he has promised. He assures them. That the victory. Was already won. How encouraging. That would have been. For Joshua. And all his army.
[34:41] To know. That the Lord. Rules supreme. Over the hearts of men. Even. There. In the city of Jericho. Even Rahab. And mustn't that have encouraged.
[34:53] Both Joshua's. People that day. And every Israelite. Who read. And heard. These words. Ever after. Especially. When they were under threat. And facing uncertain times. How much that would have.
[35:07] Emboldened them. As they're putting on their armor. Heading into battle. To know. That Jericho. Was falling apart. And if they.
[35:20] Had confidence. And were encouraged. How much more. Can we be encouraged. We just need to look. At Rahab's descendant.
[35:31] The Lord Jesus Christ. We can look back. Can't we. On his victory. Won on the cross. Confirmed in the resurrection. And we know. That he has promised.
[35:42] Never to leave. Or forsake us. We know. That his spirit. Is upon his church. Today. So that. Through the spreading. Of the good news.
[35:53] Of his grace. He is. Today. Conquering the world. He is. Building his church. And he will. Fill his world. With his glory. We know.
[36:03] That for sure. Because we look back. On what God has done. Through Christ. But not only that. Not only. Do we know. The big story.
[36:14] The great plan. Of God. That he is out working. Here and now. Not only. Do we know that. That. But doesn't the Lord. In his kindness. Give us.
[36:26] Give you and me. Real encouragements. Up close. And personal encouragements. To see. And to marvel at too. Just like here in Joshua 2.
[36:39] God confirms to us. His promises. In so many small ways. Now of course. We know. Don't we. That the Lord's word.
[36:50] Is sufficient. The Lord's word. In chapter one. Was sufficient. But the Lord. Added. Didn't he. He gave more than that. He gave him this assurance. Of chapter two. He didn't have to do it. We know.
[37:03] That the gospel. Is true. But isn't it simply. Wonderful. When the Lord. Gives us. Just little tokens. Of his faithfulness. He put something.
[37:14] In our path. So clear. We can't miss it. We can't help. But feel sure. Of God's promises. Even though. We know. His word is true. He gives us.
[37:25] Little signs. Small providences. That help us. Feel assured. And we need that. Don't we. We shouldn't.
[37:36] Expect those little tokens. Of his faithfulness. Or demand them. But God. In his grace. Knows. That we are often. A fearful people.
[37:47] He remembers. That we are mere dust. And so. In his marvelous grace. He does sometimes. Give us these tokens.
[37:58] That graciously. Confirm to us. His already. Sure word. Little reminders. From the Lord. That. He has you.
[38:09] Firmly. In his grasp. That is promises. To you. You are. Sure. And certain. Maybe he brings. Someone to you. Just. At the right time.
[38:21] It might be. A friendship. That struck up. Just when you needed. Encouragement. You were given. A real. Solid. Practical help. When things were really.
[38:32] Getting tight. Financially. A friend. A friend. You'd written off entirely. Comes to faith. A family member.
[38:42] Who has. Perhaps. Resolutely. Refused. To have anything to do with church. They accept your invitation. To the life course. They say yes.
[38:54] To coming along to church. God doesn't have to give us these tokens of his kindness. Does he? His tokens of his faithfulness. But. He is a good. And a kind.
[39:04] And a gentle. And a gracious God. And he will stoop down. To reassure you. To steady you. To strengthen you. Fearful people.
[39:18] Like you and me. He does that. He did it here. Didn't have to. He didn't have to bring that word in verse 24. That the land is truly ours.
[39:29] He'd already promised it. But he does. So let's be encouraged. At God's faithfulness. From time to time. When he does give us.
[39:40] Those little tokens. Of his grace. It's not that we're to be. Super spiritual. Looking for God's providence. In every minute detail of life.
[39:50] But we do need to recognize. Don't we? That God does. In his kindness. Show us. His faithfulness. He helps us. To feel. His promises.
[40:01] In very real ways. So when that happens. Give thanks to him. Give thanks for his kindness. And take great courage from us.
[40:16] You see our God. Is extravagant. In his grace. Stooping down. To encourage his people. Not only by his word.
[40:28] But in unexpected tokens of grace. Showing grace. To people that you and I would write off. Showing grace to the Rahabs of this world.
[40:38] People just like you and me. We are to marvel. At God's grace. That is why chapter 2 is here. In a sense it didn't have to be.
[40:50] We could move straight through the story. But Joshua 2 is here. To show us the great grace of our God. To the outsider. But also to his people. Amazing grace.
[41:03] What a great God we have. Well let's pray shall we. And then we will. Close with our final hymn. Let's pray. Amen. Father we do thank you.
[41:21] That you. Are such. A great God. That you are able. To. Stoop down.
[41:35] And touch. The lives of individuals. To save. The Rahabs. Of this world. To bring great assurance.
[41:47] To your people. At just the right times. And so help us. Each one of us. Help us as a church. To marvel.
[41:57] At your. Astonishing grace. That you. Not only. Would save. Sinners. But invite us.
[42:09] To play a small role. In what you are doing. So give us great joy. Each one of us. To be part of your work. And your world. As you build your people.
[42:22] So help us. Encourage us. Each one of us. Your amazing grace. This morning. For we ask it. In his name. Amen.