Christ-Light Connections: Entering the Promised Land & Rahab and the Spies

After 40 years in the wilderness and the passing of an entire generation, Israel will finally enter into and victoriously conquer the land promised to their forefathers. As exciting and grand as this moment would be in Israel’s history, God sours it with a prophetical dose of reality. Israel would continue to be rebellious and idolatrous.

The Christ-Light theme this week is God encourages his people with assurances of final victory. As we study these two stories, we celebrate with the children of Israel, yet we also long for the gift of a better and permanent Promised Land.

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OT2 8A

Entering the Promised Land — Numbers 27; Deuteronomy 5, 18, 31, 34; Joshua 1, 2, 3

Context

Consider everything that this generation knows or does not know. Many of them have been born in the wilderness. They did not need to search or work for food. Water was miraculously provided for them. They did not even need to concern themselves with their clothing and shoes. God had sustained them, and Moses had led them faithfully.

The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ final words to the Israelites before he dies and before they enter the promised land. God’s provisions for them would change and so would the temptations around them.

The Bible Project does a fantastic job of summarizing Deuteronomy. I recommend showing it to your children.

Big Ideas

Good-bye Moses, Hello Joshua

Moses a faithful preacher and teacher is a representation of the Law. It is significant that the representation of the Law would not lead the Israelites into the promised land. Instead, Joshua, whose name means “savior”, would lead the way.

Conversation Starter:

• How does this parallel our entrance into the everlasting Promised Land?

Be Strong and Courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:1-9)

The homeless slave nation was about to face armies that were bigger, stronger, and more experienced. This phrase is repeated multiple times to Joshua and to Israel and is the rallying cry for their conquest.

Conversation Starter:s

• Reread the verses. What promises surround this command?
• Read the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20. What parallels do you see between the instructions given to Israel and the instructions given to the church?

Prophesy of Future Idolatry (Deuteronomy 31:16)

Just before Moses dies, God has him bear the bad news. Israel will not be faithful. They will rebel, worship idols, and break their covenant. For this, they would be forsaken, destroyed, and suffer disasters. God highlights the future failings of Israel to affirm his everlasting fatherly love for his people and also to expose the insufficiency of this rescue/redemption story.

God had done mighty things for Israel by setting them free and giving them their own land. These stories would point forward to the divine rescue that would set us all free from the greater enemy and bring us to the greater Promised Land.

Meditate on this Book (Joshua 1:8)

In the midst of one of the be strong and courageous speeches, God also commands Israel to meditate on this Book of the Law (or the Torah). The Hebrew word for “meditate” does not just mean quiet internal reflection. It actually means to make noise. Elsewhere it is used to describe the coo of a dove and the growl of a lion.

Conversation Starter:

• Considering that the word “meditate” includes making noise, how does God want us to study scripture?

Crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 3)

The crossings of the Red Sea and the Jordan River bookend Israel’s journey. The two accounts are quite different. At the Red Sea, Israel is being pursued by her enemy and does not yet trust in God. This Israel crosses in fear and doubt. Now a new generation is at the banks of the Jordan. They are confidentially crossing into the land of their enemies with hope and faith.

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides great Law and Gospel points as well as thoughtful discussion questions.

40 Minutes in the Old Testament Podcast

• Episode 180: God gives Moses some bad news, Joshua is commissioned to lead, and Moses sings a song that will remain with Israel forever. Why do things go badly so quickly after Moses is gone? What promises are in the song of Moses? And why is God’s concern for his name very good news? 
• Episode 184: Israel finally crosses the Jordan. God ensures that the people know he is with Joshua in the same way he was with Moses. What is significant about something taking three days?

OT 2 8B

Rahab and the Spies — Joshua 2

Context

Forty years ago, a group of spies was sent into the promised land to gather information. As we know, the faithlessness of ten of those spies caused quite a delay! Now Joshua sends in his two spies secretly.

Big Ideas

Condemned Canaanite Prostitute

Rahab was doomed, and she knew it. With the strength of a powerful God, Israel had destroyed the neighboring cities, and her city was next.

As a Canaanite, Rahab was without hope. In Deuteronomy 20:16-17, God had commanded the complete destruction of her people. Not only was she a Canaanite, but she was a prostitute detestable to the LORD and deserving of the death penalty.

Conversation Starters:

• Examine Rahab’s words to the spies. Where do you see her confession of faith?
• In what acts do you see fruits of faith?

The Scarlet Cord (Joshua 2:18)

In this verse, the Hebrew word used for “cord” in other bible verses means “hope.”

The scarlet cord hanging from Rahab’s window reminds us of the blood on the doorframe during the first Passover. Just as God’s wrath passed over the Israelites that night, so his judgment would pass over Rahab when the walls of Jericho would fall.

The Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5)

Not only is Rahab rescued from destruction on the day that Jericho fell, but she is adopted and given a new citizenship. No longer is she a Canaanite, but an Israelite. All the judgment that was attached to her old nationality is replaced with the blessings that came with being an Israelite. Not only this, but she is included in the line of the Messiah! From the body that had once been dedicated to sin, God saw fit to bring about a piece of his redemption!

Conversation Starter:

• How does Rahab’s story comfort us as we seek forgiveness for sexual sin?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides great Law and Gospel points as well as thoughtful discussion questions.

40 Minutes in the Old Testament Podcast

• Episode 183: Joshua decides to send out spies, and we are introduced to a prostitute named Rahab. Why did the spies go to her house? How does she know about the God of Israel? Why does she lie to save the spies? What is significant about the way she will be saved from the coming war?