The Promise Land

Joshua Assumes Command

• The commanding officers were ordered to pass through the camp and have everyone prepare PROVISIONS.

• These supply provisions would probably include FOOD as the God’s provision of Manna would finally cease as Israel enters the promise land (Joshua 5:12)

• Instruction were given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

Joshua Assumes Command • Your wives, little ones, and livestock will remain

on the EAST side of the Jordan river. (1.12 -13)• All the men of VALOR will join the rest of Israel

as armed brothers to fight in war. • They shall remain until the LORD gives them

REST and then they shall take POSSESION of their land. (1.14-15)

• These 2 ½ tribes wholeheartedly agree to help the other tribes find rest across the Jordan

• They affirm complete LOYALTY to Joshua and by extension the LORD. (1:16 – 18)

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying “Go,

view the land, especially Jericho” (2.1)

Abel-Shittim• The name means, “brook of the

acacia trees” • Located 8miles from the Jordan

River, opposite Jericho, in the plains of Moab. • Area offers strategic locations

overlooking plains of Moab.

Jericho

• Key CITY because it controlled the ROUTES into the heart of Canaan.

• It was near the main fords across the southern Jordan, and it CONTROLLED the fresh spring water vital to the area

• To take Jericho would be the FIRST step in taking the heart of Canaan

RAHAB and The Spies• The PURPOSE of going to Rahab is to gather

information. • Rahab’s house may have served as an inn and

was an ideal place for soaking up information on Jericho and the area.

• Because the house was BUILT into the city wall (v. 15), a quick escape from the city would be possible.

• Ultimately, the LORD’s GRACE leads them to this house so that God may rescue Rahab for eternal salvation.

Then then King of Jericho sent guards 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”(2:3)

King of Jericho

• Canaan at this time consisted of city-states • Each state had their own KING• Chapter 12 names 31 kings in Canaan at the

time of the Conquest • The Amarna Letters, written about the time

of Joshua, show that these Canaanite kings thought of Egyptian pharaohs as their OVERLORDS and PROTECTORS

But Rahab had taken the two men and had hidden them up on the roof and covered them

with stalks of flax. (2.4,6)

Rahab’s Motive for Hiding the Spies

• The LORD has GIVEN you the land (2.8)• That all of Canaan FEAR you and their HEARTS

have melted away (lack courage) (2.9)• We know about the Red Sea (2.10) • We know about your VICTORIES over the

Amorite Kings Shion and Og (2.10) • Rahab knows that DESTRUCTION is at her

doorstep so she pleads for MERCY and makes a deal with the spies (2.11 – 14)

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she

lived in the wall. (2:15)

ESCAPE PLAN

• Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there for three days…then you may go on your way.

• Ancient Hittite documents stipulate that an enemy invader must be TRACKED for three days.

• Therefore Rahab devises a plan to ensure the safety of the two Israelite spies.

CONDITIONS OF THE PROMISE

• We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours… (2.17)

• Tie a scarlet cord in the window and gather your whole household (2.18)

• No one can leave the house (2.19)• If you tell anyone of this pact it will be

rendered void (2.20)• Rahab agrees to the terms of the deal (2.21)

They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned and

found nothing. So they went home and told Joshua everything. (2.22 – 24)

GOD’S PROMISES (chapter 3-4)• To exalt Joshua (3:7; 4:14) • To show that the Lord is with Joshua

(3:7) • To assure Israel that the Lord is

among them (3:10)• To show the Lord’s resolve to drive

out the enemies of Israel (3:10)

GOD’S PROMISES (chapter 3-4)• To provide a teaching tool for the

future generations (4:6-7; 21 – 22) • To lead all the peoples of the earth

to know the Lord’s strength to save (4:24)• To lead people to fear and worship

the LORD (4:24)

As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then

you shall set out from the place and follow it…but keep about a ½ mile distance between you and the ark (3:3 -

4)

When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan…the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters

coming down from above shall stand in a heap

ISRAEL CROSSES JORDAN

• Joshua brings together the people of Israel, “Come here and listen the LORD” (3.9)

• Here is how you shall know that you that the LIVING God is among you… (3.10)

• The ark of the covenant is passing over before you into the Jordan (3.11)

• When the soles of the FEET of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD rest in the Jordan, the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.(3.12 – 13)

ISRAEL CROSSES JORDAN

• Joshua speaks like a prophet, as one to whom the LORD has spoken directly

• “living God” – Hebrew for God “mighty one”, to emphasize God’s power in this context

• He is “living”, in contrast to the dead, worthless idols of the nations named in this chapter.

• Peter when asked who Jesus is refers to him as the “son of the living God”