Ripple Effects Reading Plan – W4D3

Check out all the previous Ripple Effect readings here.

Ripple Effect Reading | Week 4 | Day 3

Prayer

Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.

Bible Reading: Joshua 2:1-16

Today’s reading is from Joshua. The book of Joshua is about the story of how the Jews entered the promised land after God rescued them from slavery to the Egyptians. We pick up the story today right at the beginning of their entry into the promised land with Joshua, the new leader of the Jews, sending out spies to see what it would take to defeat their enemies. Read these verses three times slowly.

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate,they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og,the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”

“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”

So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”

Reflection & Questions

Is it ever okay to lie? The answer in today’s story might surprise you.

We have been reading this week of different examples of the faith that it takes to serve. In our verses today we read of an amazing act of service by a prostitute named Rahab. It is likely that the Jewish spies entered her home as it would be the least place to arouse suspicions. When word spread that the spies were at her house, she hid them and then lied to cover for them, telling the king’s men, “I don’t know which way they went.”

Rahab’s act of faith and service (and lying) is commended. In the New Testament, James says, “Was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” (James 2:25) Hebrews says, “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” (Hebrews 11:31). In fact, believe it or not, Jesus is one of Rahab’s descendents (check out Matthew 1:5).

Rahab stepped way out of her comfort zone to serve. Why? She said, “I know that the Lord has given you this land… We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea.. the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” What incredible insight this prostitute had – incredible faith that God was the true and living God. And even more, she knew her people were going to be toast, and so she told the spies, “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you.” She was looking out for her family.

We may never be in a position like Rahab where we need to lie for the sake of the gospel and the protection of our family. Our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in places of persecution and war know this very well. However, we can have bold faith like Rahab. We can know that our God is the true and living God and step out of our comfort zone to make a difference with our lives!

1. What word or phrase in our verses today encourages you?
2. Have you joined a TAG Team? You can check out different teams and sign up here.

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?