[Brother V]

Joshua 1-3

Moses is dead, we now start the time of the leadership of Joshua, son of Nun. The book of Joshua is attributed to Joshua himself. The book was written as the people took over the land. It covers roughly the last 20 years of his life.

Today we get:

• Joshua reminds the guys on the west that they have to fight.
• The 2 spies
• Crossing the Jordan

Joshua 1
1 Now 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.

Moses is dead, it is time to take over the land.

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.

How could you not be strong and of good courage when God tells you to be?

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.

How to be sure you follow God's laws? Meditate on it day and night!

Joshua tells the leaders to get ready to travel.

He talks to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and half of Manasseh.

13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.

That they were to leave behind their families and cattle, until the remainder of the tribes have their inheritance.

16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.

I'm sure these guys were in more of a hurry to conquer the land than the rest, as they wanted to get back to their families and houses.

18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.

Purely for that reason. They wanted to get back quickly.

Joshua 2

1 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.

Why did they stay at a harlot's house? Is that the only place they could get rest? Why did they give the name of the harlot, and not the name of the spies?

So, someone tells the king of Jericho that spies are in town, and at Rahab's.

3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

Rahab hid them, and said that they left right before the gate closed.

What really happened was she hid them on her roof. I'd imagine she had plenty of experience hiding men on her roof when wives came looking for their husbands. So after the other men leave, she goes up to talk to the spies.

9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

They had heard stories of the Red sea, and of Sihon and Og.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

She's pretty smart for a harlot. Rachel, are you taking notes?

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

I saved you two guys, will you save my ENTIRE family?

Her house was on the city wall (low rent/red light district) and she let them down by a rope over the wall.

18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

Kind of like the blood on the doorposts for the original passover.

19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

So stay in the house, if you go out, you die, and it's not our fault.

They also put in a non-disclosure agreement, into the contract.

20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

The men returned to Joshua and told him that everyone was afraid.


24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

Praise JESUS, it's just like He said it would be.

Joshua 3

1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

Joshua tells the people, when they see the ark going, that's when they start to go across too.

The priests take up the ark, and went before the people.

7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

Even though in Deuteronomy 34:10, it says that no prophet knew God like Moses did, but here, God says he'll be the same with Joshua as he was with Moses.

8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
Joshua says that they will know that God is with them, because the ark will pass before them.

13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.

They get there, and...

15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

The water stopped. The river dried up for as long as the ark was in the water.

17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Similar to when the people crossed the Red Sea. Except they didn't have the ark back then.

So what have we learned today?

1. Harlots can serve a purpose.
2. The ark dried up the Jordan.
3. Perhaps the reason the people's shoes lasted so long was because they never got wet?

YIC
V

[SUV]

Ooh-WEE! "Joshua!" That is the #1 Boys' name in the ultra-Godly State of Tennessee!

Gets any more popular and they'll be naming the girls Joshua!

They take a long time to say it, too: "JahhhhhShoooooooAh" Oh, they do so love it down there!

[Brother Temperance]

Originally Posted by Brother V

Joshua 1-3

Moses is dead, we now start the time of the leadership of Joshua, son of Nun. The book of Joshua is attributed to Joshua himself. The book was written as the people took over the land. It covers roughly the last 20 years of his life.

Today we get:

• Joshua reminds the guys on the west that they have to fight.
• The 2 spies
• Crossing the Jordan

Joshua 2
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

I saved you two guys, will you save my ENTIRE family?

So what have we learned today?

Assuming the bargain's kept, this shows us that the lives of two Joos = the life of a heathen harlot, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and her sisters, and all that they have. Who said that everybody was created equal? Also, does this count as negotiating with terrorists?

[Brother V]

Originally Posted by Brother Temperance

Assuming the bargain's kept, this shows us that the lives of two Joos = the life of a heathen harlot, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and her sisters, and all that they have. Who said that everybody was created equal? Also, does this count as negotiating with terrorists?

Tomorrow we find out the fate of Rahab. Now, since her house was on the wall, I'd assume when the walls came crumbling down, that her house too would have been disintegrated. So, the scarlet thread would be somewhat worthless.

Now, the bigger question is; is letting Rahab live acceptable?

Remember, they are to totally destroy EVERYTHING/EVERYONE. Deuteronomy 7:2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

They made a covenant with Rahab.

Even when the people are allowed to not kill everyone, they are still to kill every woman who has known man. Rahab was a harlot. Numbers 31:18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Surely keeping her alive is quite an abomination.

Why did they allow Rahab to live?

YIC
V

[Pastor Billy-Reuben]

Joshua 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

God promises the Israelites that their campaign into the promised land will be a cakewalk. God will, without fail drive out all of the tribes mentioned before them. SHOUT GLORY!

[WickedWitch]

Originally Posted by Pastor Billy-Reuben

Joshua 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

Hmm.... Curious... And what about the Deadites?

[Betty Lambskin]

Originally Posted by Brother V

Numbers 31:18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

An interesting point Brother V - it seems that keeping a stash of 6 year old sex slaves is okie-dokie with the Almighty...so long as they're heathens? Bless my stars.