You Have Time To Catch Them

Joshua 2:1-7 (from the NET Bible)

2:1 Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them: “Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.” They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there. 2:2 The king of Jericho received this report: “Note well! Israelite men have come here tonight to spy on the land.” 2:3 So the king of Jericho sent this order to Rahab: “Turn over the men who came to you – the ones who came to your house – for they have come to spy on the whole land!” 2:4 But the woman hid the two men and replied, “Yes, these men were clients of mine, but I didn’t know where they came from. 2:5 When it was time to shut the city gate for the night, the men left. I don’t know where they were heading. Chase after them quickly, for you have time to catch them!” 2:6 (Now she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them in the stalks of flax she had spread out on the roof.) 2:7 Meanwhile the king’s men tried to find them on the road to the Jordan River near the fords. The city gate was shut as soon as they set out in pursuit of them.

Lying for God’s team, eh? Well:

1. What happened in the text?
2. What do I learn about God?
3. What should I do about it?

1. What happened in the text?
   • Joshua sent out 2 spies to the land
   • The spies spent the night at the prostitute Rahab’s house in Jericho
   • The king of Jericho learned of their mission and location
   • The king ordered Rahab to turn over the spies
   • Rahab hid them, acknowledging they’d been there, claiming they’d left
   • Rahab claimed she didn’t know where they were going, and encouraged chase
   • Rahab had hidden them in flax stalks on her roof
   • The king’s men sought them on the road to the Jordan River
   • The city gate was shut after the king’s men left
2. What do I learn about God?
   • The most unexpected people follow Him
   • He uses flawed people
   • He even seems to allow imperfect methods to succeed sometimes
   • He provides shelter for His people
3. What should I do about it?
   • Not write people off because of what they do or have done
   • Not expect those who follow God to be perfect
   • To value people over rules
   • To be on God’s team, first and foremost