Rahab is portrayed in such a “good light” in Joshua that commentators for years have tried to make her (her occupation) anything but a “prostitute,” a common “harlot.”

A merchant, maybe?

An innkeeper?

A matriarch?

Anything but a prostitute!

In coming lessons I want to show you more about how the Holy Spirit pictures Rahab. It is amazing! (Both in what is said about her and by means of what is implied.)

“And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an HARLOT’S HOUSE, named RAHAB, and lodged there.” Joshua 2:1

In Hebrew the noun “harlot” used here is “zanah.” It comes from a root verb that means “highly fed, well paid,” therefore “wanton, sensual, sexual, prodigal.” Without exception in the Old Testament the word is used of illegal (in God’s Eyes, not allowed in Mosaic Law) sexual activity!

And yet by the time Joshua ends … Rahab is virtually a “heroine,” for her bravery and faith and character! Her leadership skills are not bad either!

But I remind you that in the Bible, especially in Proverbs, such a woman (there most often called a “strange woman”) is vilified, and rightfully so I might add.

Wow!

Rahab is even mentioned in the New Testament, folks! In Jesus’ genealogy! Then in Hebrews 11, the Bible’s great “faith” chapter! And again in James, the “strictest” Epistle in the whole Canon!

What turns a “vile woman” into a “godly woman?”

There’s only one answer … the Grace of God!

Forgiveness through the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Faith, faith, faith!

Aren’t you glad today that God does not look at our past … with all its sin?

That God now looks at us as “justified” children of faith!

Sin … GONE!

More about her tomorrow, Rahab, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Meanwhile, let’s all rejoice and delight today in the marvelous Grace of God!

 

There will be more than one lesson on Rahab.

Today’s is preliminary.

But first, this thought.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Book of Joshua is the “killing” that occurs in its pages. “Genocide,” it has been called for decades. But now a new word has taken over, “racism!”

Those “Jews” expelling those “Canaanites” (more particularly: the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites) from their land! (Land which God created, and thus owns. And can give to whomsoever He pleases. Which He did, granting the land to Israel!)

“Racism,” the politically correct (or maybe incorrect) word of the hour!

Well now, here comes Rahab, the foreigner, Joshua chapter 2. (She’s also discussed in even more detail in Joshua chapter 6.) And Rahab was a Canaanite!

Here’s what I am trying to say.

Rahab the despised woman (and a harlot at that) of a filthy race of people … is saved (along with her whole family) and brought into the Nation of Israel!

This no sooner happens than a Jew (of the Tribe of Judah nonetheless … the cream of the crop) is killed, exterminated, stoned to death (he along with his family) because of sin in his life, a (by today’s standards) relatively minor infraction, at that. His name, Achan!

Now … is that racism?

Is “exclusive” Israel here being biased?

Prejudicial?

NO, she is not!

Neither is her God a “racist!”

He is a “whosoever will may come” God!

That thought first entered my mind a couple of days ago … and it was cemented there last night after the Revival Meeting … as I lay in bed pondering this morning’s lesson.

Rahab … the most unlikely candidate in the world … her people slated for destruction … is SAVED!

Achan, from one of Israel’s most prestigious lineages … is SLAIN!

Oh, the marvels of the Grace of God.

And His Judgments, too!

In my heart the age-old attack on the Book of Joshua … its bloodthirstiness … is now “moot!”

Thank you, Lord.

The color of one’s skin is not the issue.

The state of one’s heart is the issue!

Sin is the issue!

Thus Jesus, the Forgiver of sin, is The Issue, centrally so!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Finally, the time had come!

What initially could have been an “eleven day” journey … from Egypt to Canaan … became (due to the unbelief of Israel) a multi-year trek! See Deuteronomy 1:2 … “There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.”

But Joshua 1:10-11 informs us: “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals (provisions, food); for WITHIN THREE DAYS ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.”

Wow!

And therein lies the sheer excitement of the Book of Joshua … claiming (conquering) the Land that God had given (promised) Israel!

In fact, that’s what I’d like to highlight this morning, in today’s Lesson.

For so long the Jews had lived “below” their privilege. They had lived in the wilderness when they could have (by means of obedience to God’s commands) lived in that Land “flowing with milk and honey!”

Really, Joshua chapter 1 subsequently mentions the 2 1/2 Tribes who did not (even in Joshua’s day) enter fully into Canaan! They stopped (and lived the rest of their lives) “short” of the Land they could have enjoyed. They lived east of Jordan! (Might be as bad as “east of Eden,” where wicked Cain lived.)

Incidentally, the Book of Joshua closes with a chapter about those same 2 1/2 tribes (Reuben, Ephraim and half of Manasseh) and a “mess” they nearly made for all Israel! That would be Joshua chapter 22. One could say Joshua begins and ends with a look at these “shirkers,” although they did have to supply soldiers for the battles across the Jordan! Inclusio … Joshua 1 and Joshua 22 … people who did NOT live up to their full potential! To God’s perfect Will for their lives!

Exit pre-Monarchy Israel.

Enter post-Pentecost Christianity, even America.

We still too (often) live “below” our calling!

Remember …  the blessings of the Old Testament tend to be “material” … while the blessings of the New Testament tend to be “spiritual.” Wow! That fact alone is worth the whole Lesson!

Friends, how many of us live “below” the prayer life we could enjoy? (James 4:2 … “Yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” Subnormal Christianity)

How many of us live “without” the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives? Lacking the Spirit’s “Fruit?” (Galatians 5:22-23 … “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.” Amazing!)

How many of us live “ignorantly” (needlessly so) of the Word of God? (2 Timothy 2:15 … “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The Bible is Truth!)

May I tell you something?

We could all (in less than three days) move into our Land of Canaan!

And start enjoying the “milk and honey” of the victorious Christian life!

Folks, let’s move “west!”

Cross the Jordan.

Stake a claim.

And enjoy the “abundant life,” as Jesus promised long ago.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

That’s called Revival, spiritual maturity, “living in Canaan Land!”

 

It’s ironic in a way, my favorite verse in the whole Book of Joshua is right here in its first chapter!

In the introduction, nonetheless!

Let me show you what I mean. (By the way, sometimes my favorite “passage” changes as I proceed through a Book! Joshua’s last chapter has a “golden jewel” too!)

“¹Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, ² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. ⁵ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. ⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:1-9, read it all, if you possibly can, have the time.

First notice how clearly Joshua is written as an “extension” of the Pentateuch, of the five Books of Moses. It’s merely Deuteronomy continued!

Moses is gone.

Joshua is here.

The transition is smooth!

“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore (Joshua) arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them.” (Verse 2)

Joshua had been in training for a long time now, anyway.

And most importantly, God’s Word is still in effect! (As in “This Book of the Law!” Verse 8, but we will get there in a minute.)

Then see in verses 3 and 4 that God’s Promises are still empowered, too! What God told Moses … He will do in regard to Joshua as well, especially the land grant, the Promised Land!  “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.” (Verses 3 and 4, a lot of real estate!)

I’m learning as I study for our Joshua Lessons that the old-fashioned Jews to this day love the Book of Joshua, particularly as their very “Deed Book” to the Holy Land!

Wow!

God to Joshua, how encouraging: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.” (Verse 5) Reminds me of the old  question, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” (2 Kings 2:14) Like … “Where is the Lord God of Moses?” And the rejoinder … “He is with Joshua!”

The Lord says things like this to Joshua so often … I am wondering if Joshua (still relatively young) might have needed such bolstering in his faith! “Be thou strong and very courageous.”  (Verse 7, the second time in the opening paragraph similar words have been spoken, with a third time still coming in verse 9.)

Then my favorite verse, number 8, almost a life verse. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Linkage to Deuteronomy, “THE Book of the Law!”

God’s “Story” continues! The “Metanarrative” they call it these days. Joshua’s material is NOT an addendum, but a  continuation! Not a Postscript … but the next Chapter!

But look in verse 8 at the (two great) benefits of obeying God’s Word! “This book of the law (the Bible) shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate (ponder it, talk it in your heart) therein day and night (constantly), that thou mayest observe to do (obey) according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt (#1) make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt (#2) have good success.”

Two clear blessings, all inclusive!

Then that third “challenge to be bold!” Verse 9: ““Have not I (the Lord) commanded thee (Joshua)? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

What a beginning!

Surely enough “meat” to eat today, this (last) Tuesday in August, 2017.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Verse 9 alone has enough “power” to fuel a lifetime!

 

The Lord willing, we shall study the Book of Joshua next. (After having looked, in some detail, at both Deuteronomy and Ezekiel! Those lessons all being archived here for you, on the website.)

I want to survey the Book, chapter by chapter, Joshua.

Then study the “Types of Christ” housed therein, in Joshua’s 24 chapters.

Then maybe some “interesting viewpoints” of the Book, having already seen several of these as I’ve studied for these Bible-centered Articles.

Yes … 24 chapters with 658 verses!

All beginning, the Lord willing, tomorrow morning.

I’m excited!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell