HISTORICAL BOOKS
JOSHUA
CHAPTER
2
1. Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and spent the night there.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 1)
In our own work places or at home or even among friends and family, God is sending us as spies. The work of the spy is to observe and gather important information and report it back to the one who sent the spies. From our perspective God may be sending us to observe by keeping our eyes and ears open and assess the given situations. However in contrast to the spies, when we have the necessary information based on our observation we are to pray God for the much needed information in order to intervene and make fruit by our spreading of Your Good News by means of Your Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
2. The king of Jericho was told, "Some Israelites have come here to search out the land."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 2)
Oh God You love us so much that when others attempt to come to know us in order to exploit, our spiritual, academical resources that You have given us, You make us aware of such people, so that we may become aware of such wrong doing and act accordingly. I thank You God for stimulating my conscience during such moments in order to make the right decisions at the right time.
3. Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 3)
Oh Jesus, by means of Your Good News You order us in a loving way to remove those people from our lives or sites or images that are unhealthy for our spiritual growth, for such sources have come into our lives in order to ruin and harm us both spiritually and even physically and psychologically.
4. But the woman took the two men and hid them, Then she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 4)
At times oh Jesus we may lie in order to prevent negative consequences from taking place as in the case of Rahab who may have been killed or even risked the death of the spies who visited her home. However in this case it was a means to satisfy the ends, so that the will of God may continue to unfold. In our case we are to stick to the truth, for it is the truth that will set us free and not our own crooked devices.
5. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went our. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly for you can overtake them."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 5)
Evil acts in the same way. During the night many evil acts take place such as murder theft and drug transactions among others. However as found in Your Word You are aware of all our actions and during the moment of judgement You will bring to light all that we ever did in darkness or in secret and the truth will be declared.
6. She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 5)
Rahab oh God gives us a typical example of when we attempt to hide the truth or project a message by using You oh God in order to pass on the message. On the one hand she acted according to Your will by disclosing the identity of the men Your servants, however on the other hand she lied about what had become of them. Oh Jesus may the truth be present in me and others, may it dwell in my mind and in my heart and throughout my entire being.
5. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly for you can overtake them."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 5)
As in the case of our sinful and negative thoughts oh God You have given us the ability to identify them and even destroy them so that we will not be harassed by them anymore.
6. She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof. 7. So the men pursued them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 6 to 7)
As in the case of Rahab the prostitute at times we may end up doing things that are considered as bad however with a good intention. In order to view the circumstances of Rahab please click on the following link.
Rahab and the spies
8. Before they went to sleep, she came up to them on the roof 9. and said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the Land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you. 10. For we have heard the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 8 to 10)
Oh God during out times Christianity has spread far and wide and is still spreading throughout the world. I pray that Your name will also remain touching the hearts of humanity everywhere it is preached so that one day the world will become one big family united in Your name. Amen
11. As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of You. The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 11)
If you or anyone feels that You have no place in the Church of God feel encouraged because God even accepted a harlot as a key player in His plan for our salvation. Therefore if God had room for such a person He has a role for even you and me.
12. Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the LORD that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith 13. that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 12 to 13)
Oh God You teach us well not to pass judgement on others, for Rahab teaches us a great lesson. Also she was considered as a prostitute with which we normally associate negative connotations, when in contact with people who had made an experience of You love, she responded with love and care and most of all her heart was converted to believing in You. Oh I pray oh Jesus that I will be a bridge that many people will use in order to find their way to You. Amen. I pray that my presence will always reflect Your presence in me so much that many souls will be saved. I pray that I be an instrument in Your hands my God, use me when You want to, where You want to and as much as You want to Amen.
14. The men said to her, "Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the LORD gives us the land."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 14)
Oh God how easy it is for us to give our word to humans, however how unfaithful it is of us as Christians when we go against Your Word and betray it by means of what we say and do. I pray that as a Roman Catholic I remain faithful in my belief in You my Father. I also lift my praise to those who have given their life in order to give testimony of You especially those who were killed and raped because they are Christians. Oh God I pray to have such a strong and credible faith Amen.
15. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 15)
Oh God You are totally proactive. You plan everything before hand and all that You do is done with a purpose, even the location of our home, or our job is not a coincidence but according to Your holy will. So we are never to take anything for granted even the tiniest details of our lives, that we may consider as being insignificant.
16. She said to them, "Go toward the hill country, so that the pursuers may not come upon you. Hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned; then after ward you may go your way."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 16)
Oh God how great is Your name and how great and wise are Your teachings. In Your infinite wisdom You teach us not to pass judgement on anybody and this is so true, for even a woman who was considered as being a negative harlot was able to be an agent of good and wise counsel and practical knowledge based on observations. From her ideal position in the wall she was aware of the movements and behaviour patterns of the soldiers for her own sinful purposes, however God used those same observation skills in order to enable Rahab to reap the fruit of those observations and use them to give wise counsel to his servants while being at Jericho. Therefore we are never to discredit nobodies counsel for it may be the case that You oh God may be speaking by means of such people.
17. The men said to her, "We will be released from this oath that you have made us swear to you 18. if we invade the land and you do not tie this crimson cord in the window through which you let us down, and you do not gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers and all your family.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 17 to 18)
Oh loving father You love us so much that You remained nailed to the cross up to the last second of Your life on earth. Moreover Your promise of salvation was not only a personal one for us as individuals but a universal one that covers all who are willing to accept Your salvation.
19. If any of you go out of the doors of your house into the street, they shall be responsible for their own death, and we shall be innocent; but if a hand is laid upon any who are with you in the house, we shall bear the responsibility for their death. 20. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be released from this oath that you made us swear to you."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 19 to 20)
As in the case of Rahab and the spies, God never goes back on His Word. He always keeps his part of the contract of His love for us, it is us who violate it by our sins.
21. She said, "According to your words, so be it." She sent them away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 21)
As much as we give our consent to the ways of the world, we are also to give our word to You. During the course of our lives as Roman Catholics we gave our consent at the time of Holy Communion and again at the time of confirmation. However some of us have also given their word to You during their ordination or marriage, or others of other churches have also given their word when becoming ministers, bishops or other roles in their ministry.
22. They departed and went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had searched all along the way and found nothing. 23. Then the two men came down again from the hill country. They crossed over, came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him all that had happened to them. 24. They said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before us."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 22 to 24)
Oh God I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh Father the big difference in when we follow Your will to when we seek, our ways or the ways of the world is that when we follow Your ways we are never disappointed as in the case of the pursuers, for when following Your ways we never end up empty handed. You always deliver us to our promised land which is our most important destination.
2. The king of Jericho was told, "Some Israelites have come here to search out the land."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 2)
Oh God You love us so much that when others attempt to come to know us in order to exploit, our spiritual, academical resources that You have given us, You make us aware of such people, so that we may become aware of such wrong doing and act accordingly. I thank You God for stimulating my conscience during such moments in order to make the right decisions at the right time.
3. Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 3)
Oh Jesus, by means of Your Good News You order us in a loving way to remove those people from our lives or sites or images that are unhealthy for our spiritual growth, for such sources have come into our lives in order to ruin and harm us both spiritually and even physically and psychologically.
4. But the woman took the two men and hid them, Then she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 4)
At times oh Jesus we may lie in order to prevent negative consequences from taking place as in the case of Rahab who may have been killed or even risked the death of the spies who visited her home. However in this case it was a means to satisfy the ends, so that the will of God may continue to unfold. In our case we are to stick to the truth, for it is the truth that will set us free and not our own crooked devices.
5. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went our. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly for you can overtake them."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 5)
Evil acts in the same way. During the night many evil acts take place such as murder theft and drug transactions among others. However as found in Your Word You are aware of all our actions and during the moment of judgement You will bring to light all that we ever did in darkness or in secret and the truth will be declared.
6. She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 5)
Rahab oh God gives us a typical example of when we attempt to hide the truth or project a message by using You oh God in order to pass on the message. On the one hand she acted according to Your will by disclosing the identity of the men Your servants, however on the other hand she lied about what had become of them. Oh Jesus may the truth be present in me and others, may it dwell in my mind and in my heart and throughout my entire being.
5. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly for you can overtake them."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 5)
As in the case of our sinful and negative thoughts oh God You have given us the ability to identify them and even destroy them so that we will not be harassed by them anymore.
6. She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof. 7. So the men pursued them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 6 to 7)
As in the case of Rahab the prostitute at times we may end up doing things that are considered as bad however with a good intention. In order to view the circumstances of Rahab please click on the following link.
Rahab and the spies
8. Before they went to sleep, she came up to them on the roof 9. and said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the Land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you. 10. For we have heard the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 8 to 10)
Oh God during out times Christianity has spread far and wide and is still spreading throughout the world. I pray that Your name will also remain touching the hearts of humanity everywhere it is preached so that one day the world will become one big family united in Your name. Amen
11. As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of You. The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 11)
If you or anyone feels that You have no place in the Church of God feel encouraged because God even accepted a harlot as a key player in His plan for our salvation. Therefore if God had room for such a person He has a role for even you and me.
12. Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the LORD that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith 13. that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 12 to 13)
Oh God You teach us well not to pass judgement on others, for Rahab teaches us a great lesson. Also she was considered as a prostitute with which we normally associate negative connotations, when in contact with people who had made an experience of You love, she responded with love and care and most of all her heart was converted to believing in You. Oh I pray oh Jesus that I will be a bridge that many people will use in order to find their way to You. Amen. I pray that my presence will always reflect Your presence in me so much that many souls will be saved. I pray that I be an instrument in Your hands my God, use me when You want to, where You want to and as much as You want to Amen.
14. The men said to her, "Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the LORD gives us the land."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 14)
Oh God how easy it is for us to give our word to humans, however how unfaithful it is of us as Christians when we go against Your Word and betray it by means of what we say and do. I pray that as a Roman Catholic I remain faithful in my belief in You my Father. I also lift my praise to those who have given their life in order to give testimony of You especially those who were killed and raped because they are Christians. Oh God I pray to have such a strong and credible faith Amen.
15. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 15)
Oh God You are totally proactive. You plan everything before hand and all that You do is done with a purpose, even the location of our home, or our job is not a coincidence but according to Your holy will. So we are never to take anything for granted even the tiniest details of our lives, that we may consider as being insignificant.
16. She said to them, "Go toward the hill country, so that the pursuers may not come upon you. Hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned; then after ward you may go your way."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 16)
Oh God how great is Your name and how great and wise are Your teachings. In Your infinite wisdom You teach us not to pass judgement on anybody and this is so true, for even a woman who was considered as being a negative harlot was able to be an agent of good and wise counsel and practical knowledge based on observations. From her ideal position in the wall she was aware of the movements and behaviour patterns of the soldiers for her own sinful purposes, however God used those same observation skills in order to enable Rahab to reap the fruit of those observations and use them to give wise counsel to his servants while being at Jericho. Therefore we are never to discredit nobodies counsel for it may be the case that You oh God may be speaking by means of such people.
17. The men said to her, "We will be released from this oath that you have made us swear to you 18. if we invade the land and you do not tie this crimson cord in the window through which you let us down, and you do not gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers and all your family.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 17 to 18)
Oh loving father You love us so much that You remained nailed to the cross up to the last second of Your life on earth. Moreover Your promise of salvation was not only a personal one for us as individuals but a universal one that covers all who are willing to accept Your salvation.
19. If any of you go out of the doors of your house into the street, they shall be responsible for their own death, and we shall be innocent; but if a hand is laid upon any who are with you in the house, we shall bear the responsibility for their death. 20. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be released from this oath that you made us swear to you."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 19 to 20)
As in the case of Rahab and the spies, God never goes back on His Word. He always keeps his part of the contract of His love for us, it is us who violate it by our sins.
21. She said, "According to your words, so be it." She sent them away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.
(Joshua Chapter 2 verse 21)
As much as we give our consent to the ways of the world, we are also to give our word to You. During the course of our lives as Roman Catholics we gave our consent at the time of Holy Communion and again at the time of confirmation. However some of us have also given their word to You during their ordination or marriage, or others of other churches have also given their word when becoming ministers, bishops or other roles in their ministry.
22. They departed and went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had searched all along the way and found nothing. 23. Then the two men came down again from the hill country. They crossed over, came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him all that had happened to them. 24. They said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before us."
(Joshua Chapter 2 verses 22 to 24)
Oh God I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh Father the big difference in when we follow Your will to when we seek, our ways or the ways of the world is that when we follow Your ways we are never disappointed as in the case of the pursuers, for when following Your ways we never end up empty handed. You always deliver us to our promised land which is our most important destination.
