Sermon Notes - Joshua Chapter 2 - Littleby Baptist Church - August 10, 2025

1.        God is preparing Joshua and the people for an adventure.

a.        They needed to be encouraged.

b.       They needed to be reminded to be strong and courageous.

c.        They were to embrace the Word of God.

d.       Observing the teaching held within it.

e.        They were to not be afraid.

f.          To not be discouraged.

g.        Then Joshua and all the people had to get prepared for their adventure.

h.        They had to take the first step of faith.

i.          Of being ready.

2.        We have to do the same.

a.        We have to be ready to take a step of faith.

b.       To trust in God.

c.        Believing that He will do what He says.

d.       Knowing that He will provide.

e.        That He will see us through our next adventure.

3.        Johsua had called the people to prepare.

a.        He had reminded the 2 ½ tribes about their commitment to fight with their brothers.

b.       Joshua 1:16-17

c.        They were going to follow Joshua.

d.       But more importantly, they were going to follow God.

e.        They did not know how it was going to work out.

f.          They did not know the details.

g.        But they were going to trust in God.

4.        We need to do the same.

a.        God is the one who is in control.

b.       No matter what battle we are fighting.

c.        We can trust in our God.

d.       By listening to the last few words of the first chapter, which is a reoccurring theme of the chapter.

e.        Read starting at Above all…

f.          A message that was repeated four times in that chapter.

g.        God must think it is important to repeat it that much.

h.        We are to be strong and courageous.

5.        Let’s take a look where God is taking Joshua, the Israelites, and us.  

6.        Joshua 2:1

a.        Joshua is trying to prepare.

b.       To do the right thing.

c.        Have as much information as he can.

d.       It has been 40 years since he saw the land.

e.        So, he sends two guys out to see what has changed.

f.          They go to Rahab’s place thinking they would blend in.

g.        Guys’ go in and out of her place on a regular basis.

7.        Joshua 2:2-3

a.        The king finds out.

b.       Asks Rahab for the Israelite spies.

8.        Joshua 2:4-7

a.        Rahab protects the Israelites and sends the kings men on a wild goose chase.

b.       She could have turned them over, but she did not.

c.        Nothing is said here about how involved God was.

d.       How easily the king’s men were led astray.

e.        The best we can tell they did not question Rahab very much.

f.          They did not search the place.

g.        They took her word for it.

h.        They went searching for the Israelites.

i.          I believe God was involved.

j.          I believe He shielded the spies from the king’s men.

k.        I believe God made the king’s men overly eager to find the spies so they would run off after them.

l.          God was at work.

9.        Joshua 2:8-11

a.        Here we have Rahab a pagan worshipper talking to the Israelites.

b.       She is sharing the feelings of the people of Canaan.

c.        There is a dreed all over the land.

d.       They remember all that have heard about how the God of Israel parted the Red Sea.

e.        Something that happened over 40 years ago.

f.          Something the Canaanites did not see.

g.        Yet it is scaring them.

h.        They have heard about the recent military victories.

i.          And they are afraid.

10.   God is at work in the people of Canaan.

a.        The Israelites have yet to cross the Jordan River.

b.       And God is already at work.

c.        He is preparing the land of Canaan and its people for the coming of His people.

d.       Rahab is perceptive enough to see that the Israelite God is real.

e.        She may even believe in the One True God.

11.   It is amazing how God being at work in our lives can have an impact on people around us.

a.        Things from years gone by can have a lasting impact on people.

b.       The parting of the Red Sea is a big one.

c.        You can expect something like that to be remembered and for it to impact people for a long time.

d.       But things in our lives, where God used us in some way can touch someone.

e.        Things we may not even realize we have done.

f.          Can have a lasting impact.

g.        God uses us and sometimes we never know it.

12.   God does work in those who do not know Him.

a.        Rahab is an example of that.

b.       Her words show that she is beginning to see the truth.

c.        We never know when the Holy Spirit will get hold of someone.

d.       We can share the truth with them one time, ten times, or fifty times.

e.        At some point, the Holy Spirit will open their eyes and heart so that they are ready to hear the truth and accept it.

f.          Which is why we have to keep sharing and sharing and sharing.

13.   Joshua 2:12-13

a.        Kindness for kindness.

b.       I have spared your lives.

c.        Please spare the lives of my family.

d.       The key thing here is that Rahab believes that the people of this God in heaven above and earth below, are going to successfully take Jericho.

e.       As if it has already been decided.

f.          In her mind, God delivering Jericho into the hands of the Israelites is a done deal.

g.        Their God is greater than anything she has believed in the past.

h.        She is willing to trust that if these guys make an agreement, they will honor it.

14.   Joshua 2:14-15

a.        Our life for yours!

b.       You spare our lives, and we will do the same for you and yours.

c.        You cannot tell anyone about our mission.

d.       You must keep it secret.

e.        And when the Lord Our God fulfills His promise, we will show you the kindness you have shown us.

15.    In these last several verses, both Rahab and the spies are showing faith.

a.        In each other and in God.

b.       Rahab believes that God is giving the land to the Israelites.

c.        The Spies state in verse 15, when the Lord gives us the land.

d.       Not if, but when.

e.        When God fulfills His promise.

f.          They are showing faith.

g.        They are trusting in God.

16.   A great reminder for us to trust in our God.       

a.        To trust in the many promises we find in Scripture.

17.   Joshua 2:16

a.        Go hide.

b.       You should be safe there until the king’s men stop looking for you.

18.   Joshua 2:17-20

a.        Dotting the “I”s and crossing the “T”s.

b.       Making everything as clear as they could.

c.        Hang this red cord.

d.       Have all of your family in your home.

e.        Don’t let them leave.

f.          Or we cannot vouch for their safety.

g.        And no telling anyone.

19.   Joshua 2:21

a.        An agreement is struck.

b.       And almost as if she was signing the agreement.

c.        The scarlet cord was tied to the window.

20.   Joshua 2:22

a.        So far Rahab has done them right.

b.       She protected them in her house.

c.        Let them out through the window.

d.       Gave them good advice on where to hide and for how long.

e.        The king’s men did not find them.

f.          She held up her end of the bargain.

g.        She must have believed what she said.

h.        She must believe that their God was going to help them be triumphant.

21.   Joshua 2:23-24

a.        They shared everything with Joshua.

b.       How the people remember what God had done 40 years ago.

c.        How they remember the parting of the Red Sea.

d.       How powerful the God of Israel must be to do something like that.

e.        How scared the people of Cannan are.

f.          How God has already handed the people over to the Israelites.

g.        The guys Joshua sent over believed that if the people went over and trusted in God, that they would be triumphant.

h.        Re-Read vs. 24 what is underlined…

i.          The Entire land.

j.          God is ready for the people to receive what He has been trying to give them for a long time.

22.   Our God wants to give us amazing gifts.

a.        I am not talking about gifts that the world thinks are great.

b.       I am not talking about wealth, fame, and things like that.

c.        Those things perish in time.

d.       Our God gives us Hope, He gives us Peace, Joy, Wisdom, Strength, Love, and more.

e.        He gives us the Awesome gift of Salvation.

f.          As a follower of Christ as we seek to spend more time with our Jesus.

g.        As we seek His will for our life.

h.        As we follow Him.

i.          Trust in Him.

j.          These gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy, Wisdom, Strength, Love and others, are given to us.

k.        Seek Jesus and let the Holy Spirit give you the gifts you need.

l.          Gifts that allow you to fulfill the calling that He has put on your life.

m.     Whether that is here at Littleby.

n.        One that is filled while you serve your neighbors.

o.        Or who knows where God may be calling you.

23.   If you do not know Jesus.

a.        There is an even more awesome gift our Lord Jesus would love to give you.

b.       The gift of eternal life with Him.

c.        We are all sinners.

d.       But Jesus died on a cross.

e.        To pay the debt of our sin.

f.          A debt that we owe.

g.        So that He can spend forever with you.

h.        He did this because He loves you.

i.          If you are ready to give your life to Jesus.

j.          I would love to talk to you.