Joshua 2: Rahab and the Spies

This week we will walk through chapter 2 of Joshua. For some of you this may be a familiar story. I encourage you to look at the story with fresh eyes.

Observation:
Read Joshua chapter 2
Read back through Joshua chapter 2 and mark every reference to Joshua, the spies, Rahab, the land, and the inhabitants of the land.
In your journal ask yourself these questions and write down the answers:

• What do you learn about Rahab? 
• Who is she? 
• Where does she live? 
• What does she tell the men of the city who come looking for the spies? 
• What does she tell the spies about the inhabitants of the land? 
• What does she ask of the spies regarding herself and her family?
• How do the spies answer her? What instructions do they give her? 
• What do you learn about the spies?
• What are the spies sent to do? 
• How do they get out of the city?
• What report do the spies bring back to Joshua? 
• What do you learn about God? 
• What stories have the inhabitants of the land heard? 
• How do the inhabitants of the land feel about Joshua and the people of Israel and their God?

Interpretation:

Look up the following words in Hebrew using Blue Letter Bible:

• melted
• no courage

Look up the following verses and write down what you learn about Rahab:

• Hebrews 11:31
• James 2:25
• Joshua 6:22-25
• Matthew 1:5

Application:

Be ready to talk about what you learned about Rahab and her part in the story of the people of Israel. 

Joshua 1

Last week we looked at the background of Joshua and the land. As you work through this lesson, remember the things that you learned. Remember how long the children of Israel have been waiting for God to give them the land.

Observation:
Remember in observation we are asking what does the text say. We aren't looking to add our thoughts, but looking for what is obviously written in the text.

• Read Joshua 1 looking for key people and places
• Read Joshua 1 this time mark every reference to Joshua and the land (I'm going to mark Joshua with a blue circle and the land with a green double underline).
• Get out your journal and make a list of everything you learn about Joshua and everything you learn about the land. 
• Did you see any other key words that we should mark? (Remember key words are repeated words that help unlock the meaning of the text) Go back through and mark references to: strong and courageous, possess, the Lord commanded (or any phrases like it).

Interpretation:

Interpretation is when we ask ourselves what does the text mean. This step is when we dig a little deeper into the text. 

• using Blue Letter Bible look up the following words:
• strong
• courageous
• dismayed
• Look up the following verses and write down what you learn about being strong and courageous:
• Hebrews 13:5-6
• 2 Thessalonians 3:3
• John 16:33
• Ephesians 6:10-11
• 1 Corinthians 16:13

Application:

Joshua and the people were going to experience some scary things in the land. Some of the people they were being called to remove from the land were very big and scary. Are there things in your life that seem like they are bigger than you can handle? Are there things God is calling you to that feel giant? Spend some time talking to the Lord about these things and write down what you learned from Joshua 1 that would help you in this situation. 

Joshua - The Background

This week we will begin a new study in a new book. We will begin studying the book of Joshua. Before we dive into the book itself there is some background work we need to do. The background to the book of Joshua will be our focus this week. 

So let's dive in:

First we will begin by reading Joshua chapter 1. Read through the chapter and look for the main character and place. 

Did you notice who our main character is? It's Joshua. I want you to spend some time finding out who Joshua is, where has he been, what role has he had in the Bible until now? Look up the following verses and write down what you learn about Joshua.

• Exodus 17:8-16
• Exodus 24:12-13
• Numbers 11:28
• Numbers 13:1-16, 25-14:12
• Numbers 14:26-38
• Numbers 27:15-23
• Numbers 32:11-13
• Numbers 34:16-17
• Deuteronomy 1:34-39
• Deuteronomy 3:18-29
• Deuteronomy 31:1-8,14-23
• Deuteronomy 34:5-9

The main place in the book of Joshua is the land. God gave the people many instructions about life in the land. As you look up the following verses write down specific answers about what you learn about: 

• the boundaries and those inhabiting the land before Israel. 
• who is to possess the land and for how long. Watch for references to descendants.
• any conditions with respect to possessing or living in the land
• why the former occupants are being evicted and judged
• God’s role in the occupation of the land 

Below are the verses:

• Genesis 12:1-7 
• Genesis 13:12-18 
• Genesis 15:7-21 
• Genesis 17:1-8 
• Genesis 26:1-5 
• Genesis 28:1-4, 13-16
• Exodus 6:1, 8 
• Exodus 23:20-33
• Leviticus 18:1-3, 24-30—Leviticus 18 gives instructions to Israel of what behaviors would be unacceptable in the land. Does verse 27 give you insight as to why the former inhabitants are being evicted/judged?
• Leviticus 20:22-24 
• Leviticus 25:1-23 
• Leviticus 26:1-9 
• Numbers 33:40, 50-56
• Numbers 34:1-15
• Deuteronomy 7:1-6, 16-26 
• Deuteronomy 11:8-32 
• Deuteronomy 32:8-9 
• Deuteronomy 34:1-4