Sunday, June 5th, 2016
The book of Joshua records the culmination of Israel’s journey to the Promised Land. Here we see God fulfill His promise to give the land of Canaan to Jacob’s descendants. Joshua portrays the Lord as their general, the One who would lead His people in victorious battle if they would trust and obey.
God is the ultimate promise-keeper. As faithful and present as He was with Israel, so He is with us. “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
As you read and study together, make sure to work hard at hearing from everyone that has gathered together. Pray for one another and be accountable to applying the word of God to your lives.
Questions for this week:
- Although Rahab is a Canaanite and a prostitute, her deliverance shows that God’s grace extends to any person who confesses in Him. Who are people in your life that you write off as having no hope, or don’t share the gospel with because of a questionable profession?
- Read. Matthew 21:31-33 “Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him.” Jesus is talking to the religious leaders of the day. How does this impact you personally as someone who is “religious”?
- God works out His will in a sinful, fallen world, using less-than-ideal people and circumstances to advance his purposes (e.g., Isaiah 10:5). For instance, the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas regarding Timothy leads to the spread of the gospel (Acts 15: 37–40). What is a personal example of when God worked in your life through a less than ideal situation?
- Does Joshua sending spies into the land to bring back a report of what they were looking at show a lack of faith on his part in God fulfilling his promise?
- How do you believe that Rahab’s faith was impacted through her role in this story? How was God’s character displayed to her through the spies’ promise to save her and her family?
- What other biblical imagery does the scarlet cord that Rahab hung out her window bring mind?