HEBREWS 11:30-31

January 20, 2019
So, faith is an assurance, a conviction, in things not yet
seen – namely, that God will fulfill His promises in the future.  How can we be sure?  Well, He has proven Himself faithful over and
over in the past.  We can even read about
it, like reading the newspaper. And so, Hebrews 11 gives us a long list of
faithful people of the past who believed God – that He would faithfully fulfill
His promises as yet unseen. 
And as a demonstration that our faith is rightly placed, the
author has turned his attention to some mighty acts of God, from the past, that
are meant to encourage our faith.  Look
lack of faith, many don’t believe the stories of the past.  Sure, they may be recorded – but they’re just
myth or legend.  Religious
propaganda.  If skeptical, cynical unbelievers
can get you to doubt the veracity – the truthfulness of the Bible, the battle
is half won.  You’re well on your way to discarding
the whole thing.  And so, I would suggest
faith even has a backward look – that the stories we read in the Bible are true
– incredible as they are.  Unbelievable,
ridiculous.  They happened – even if
modern scholarship scoffs.  So do you
believe the stories?  If you do – since
they actually happened – they will bolster your faith for the future. 
Last week, we finished our look at Moses – a man of great
faith.  And his faith was rewarded – God did
some incredible things.  Namely, in the
tenth plague against Egypt, He sent the death angel to kill the firstborn of
every house.  Well, except for those
houses which displayed faith, by displaying the blood of a lamb on their
doorways.  As a result, the death angel
passed over them.  Incredible.  Do you believe that?  And so Pharaoh finally let the people go.
But then, of course, he changed his mind – leading to
another unbelievable story of God’s faithfulness – and the people’s faith in
Him.  They get to the Red Sea, and cross
on dry ground as God parted the waters. 
Amazing – unbelievable story. 
It’s supposed to encourage us – if you believe them. 
So we arrive this morning at our last two specific stories
in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.  Like
last week, they are familiar stories – stories which are supposed to increase
our faith, not our skepticism or cynicism. 
Again, the author is trying to encourage us with the faithfulness of God
to fulfill His promises.  Even if that
faithfulness involves incredible, unbelievable stories.  Let’s read these related stories found in Hebrews
Two short verses that summarize yet another great,
unbelievable story in the Bible – the conquest of Jericho.  And the truth is, the story is even more
amazing than we know.  We face the same
challenge as last week – familiarity. 
But don’t allow that familiarity to bore you.  This is better than Clemson beating up on Alabama.  And, we read about it in the first few
chapters of Joshua.  Will you believe
it?  I hope so – because it’s supposed to
encourage your faith.
Joshua has assumed command of the children of Israel after
Moses’ death.  He’s to lead them in
conquest of Canaan.  At the beginning of
Joshua, they’re still on the east side of the Jordan River – the Land of
Promise is west of the river.  In chapter
2, Joshua sends in a couple men to spy out the land – specifically, the
high-walled city of Jericho.  History and
archeology tell us there were actually two walls – the outer wall 11 feet high
– the second interior wall was 25-35 feet tall. 
Between those two walls was a plastered escarpment – pitched at about 35
degrees, making scaling the walls or a battering ram difficult.  Does that mean walls keep people out?  I’ll let you decide that.  It worked for Jericho – or did it?  (Op-Ed)
Between those two walls, people lived in small homes –
apartments.  This is where Rahab
lived.  We’ll come back to her, since the
author takes the story in somewhat reverse order.  The spies come back with a favorable report –
the inhabitants of Jericho are melting in fear because of us – the city is shut
out, no one came in. 
Great, so the first thing the Israelites must do is cross
the Jordan River, which was actually at flood stage.  At that time, the river could be almost a
mile across – almost not fordable.  But,
God had promised them the land – to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their
descendants.  And further, He had promised
Joshua that He would be with Joshua just like He was with Moses.  Keep that in mind.
Because, what famous story comes to mind about Moses – how
about the one in the previous verse – when God parted the Red Sea so the
Israelites could walk across on dry ground. 
He does the same thing forty years later – this time, under Joshua.  This time, the Jordan River parts, and the
people walk across on dry ground.  In
fact, chapter 4 says, as a result, the people revered Joshua, just as they had
revered Moses.  Mission accomplished.  (Crossing of the Jordan)
They camp about two miles from shut-up Jericho, in a place
called Gilgal.  Again, no one is going
into Jericho, no one is coming out.  But
it is a fortified city.  If they are to
successfully take the Land, they must take Jericho.  You see, it was right in the middle of the
land – they would slice right through – divide the north from the south –
divide and conquer.  Which is exactly
what they did.  After Jericho and Ai,
they turn south for a southern campaign, then back north for a northern
campaign.  Military strategists still
marvel at the battle plan – it was brilliant.
But, how to take Jericho, this highly fortified city?  We read an interesting passage at the end
Joshua 5 – right before chapter 6 and the conquest of Jericho.  They’ve crossed the Jordan, and one evening,
13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”15 The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
This is an amazing encounter.  Joshua is trying to figure out how to take
this city.  He’s right outside the walls,
and looks up – and there’s a man standing with his sword drawn.  No doubt, adrenalin is flowing.  If this is one of the city’s inhabitants,
he’s an enemy, and Joshua is about to engage in combat.  He draws his own sword, runs over to the man
and says, “who are you – are you for us or for our adversaries?”  Basically he asks, who goes there, friend or
foe? 
That’s a pretty simple question – not that hard –
are you for us or against us?  But the
man responds, no.  What do you mean
no?  Maybe you didn’t hear me.  This is not a yes or no question – it’s
either for us or against us – one or the other. 
But the guy responds no. Rather, I come now as captain of the host of
the LORD.  What?  His response is this – I’m not for you, I’m
not for them.  I’m for Me.  I’m captain of the host of the LORD.  The question is, are you for Me, Joshua.  Joshua gets it – falls to his face.  He knows he’s in the presence of someone
greater.
How greater? 
Look at the next verse, “The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua,
‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place you are standing is holy
ground.’” Does that sound familiar?  Yes
it does.  When God appeared to Moses in
the burning bush, He said the same thing to him – take off your shoes, Moses –
this is God speaking, and you are on holy ground.  Then we remember, as I was with Moses, so I
will be with you, Joshua.  Take off your
shoes.  And the question is not, am I on
your side – the question is, are you on My side? 
I think the Lord often has that question for
us.  How often we marshal God to us or
our purposes.  As if He is the heavenly
butler, called to do our bidding.  I’ve
got this all figured out God, now do what I want.  Not God, what do you want us to do, but God,
what will you do for me.  Take off your
shoes, Joshua, for the place you’re standing is holy.  And he does so, with his face to the ground.  This story always gets me.  What would I do if I came face to face with a
holy God?  Great to finally meet you God
– now here’s my to-do list.  This is
called a theophany – that is, a physical appearance of God to His people.  He does so several times in the OT – before
He takes flesh in the New Testament in the person of Jesus.  Have you come face to face with God?  Have you bowed your knee?  I suppose it depends on whether you believe
the stories. 
Which brings us to chapter 6 and the Battle for
Jericho.  You likely know this
story.  Remember, there are no real
chapter divisions between chapter 5 and 6. 
Joshua is on his face before God. 
The city is shut up tightly.  And
the Lord said to Joshua in 6:2ff:
2 The LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.3 “You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.4 “Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark [that is, of the covenant]; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 “It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.”
So, Joshua summoned the people, and told them the
plan.  Can you imagine?  Can you imagine what his generals said?  Um, we’ve been strategizing, and we think we
should build a siege ramp.  Or we should
just wait them out.  We should – well,
anything but that plan, Joshua.  But this
was God’s plan.  Here’s my question –
why?  This was not the normal way to take
a city.  What was this about?  Yes, later God gets into the battle in
chapter 10, as we saw last week – when He hurled huge hailstones at the
enemy.  But what was this about?  This was quite unconventional.  Why?
I can come up with a least a couple reasons.
First, it was to build their faith.  Yes,
these people had come out of Egypt – but they were the young ones.  Everyone over the age of 20 had died in the
wilderness, because of unbelief.  Now it
was time for the next generation to believe – to trust that God, their God, was
with them.  Are you going to trust Me, as
ridiculous as the plan sounds? 
And second, I think God was reminding them who was
in charge.  Why, the inhabitants were
melting in fear, hidden behind locked and barred doors and gates.  And you think it’s because they’re melting in
fear because of you?  Yes, there are 2
million of you – but I’m the one who delivered you from Egypt with a mighty
hand.  I’m the one who unleashed the 10
plagues – remember that?  I’m the one who
sustained you for forty years in the wilderness.  I gave you water to drink, manna to eat.  Your clothes and your shoes didn’t even wear
out.  I parted the sea for you to leave
Egypt, and the river for you to enter Canaan. 
Remember that?
I’m the one what led you in battle against the kings
on the east side of the Jordan, and I’m the one who lead you in battle on the
west side.  You think this is about
you?  They’re melting in fear because of
who?  Because of Me – let’s get that
straight.  This is My battle – you are My
people.  The battle belongs to the
Lord.  I think sometimes He does the same
thing with us.  We win a few battles, we
cross a few rivers – a few seemingly overwhelming, unconquerable obstacles – and
you get full of yourself.  Can I remind
you who did it?  Can I remind you, this
is about My glory, and I will not share it with another.
Well, how did the Israelites respond?  They believed.  By faith they acted.  It was a crazy plan – but they did it.  And God got the glory.  The rest of chapter 6 tells us they walked
around the city once each day for six days in complete silence – only the eerie
sounding of the seven priests blowing the seven rams’ horns.  Oh, and don’t miss – the ark of the covenant
– which symbolized the very presence of God – led them.  Because this was about Him.
Don’t miss also there is no mention of the
inhabitants of Jericho saying or doing anything.  Many of my commentaries talk about how,
undoubtedly, they began gathering at the top of wall, hurling down abuse and
taunting the Israelites.  Watch a Veggie
Tales video and see the French Peas making fun of the few Israelites marching
around.  Really – is that right?  Why would they do that?  They were melting in fear.  I don’t think there’s anything recorded
because I don’t think they said or did anything.  They were quaking in their sandals.  Too frightened to say or do anything.  Please, just go away.  Some of us will be in Jericho either later
this week or early next week.  And we
will find it was small city – maybe 25,000 people.  How many Israelites were there – camping two
miles away? 
Well, then came the ominous seventh day.  On that day, they marched around the city seven
times – again in silence.  But at the end
of the seventh revolution, we read:
16 At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.17 “The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the
people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout
and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every
man straight ahead, and they took the city.
They took the city – and everyone in it was put to
the sword.  Everyone except Rahab the
harlot and everyone who was with her in her house.  Which brings us to her story.  We have to rewind to chapter 2 – back when Joshua
first sent the spies to Jericho.  I
always find it interesting – Moses sent 12 spies, but Joshua only sent
two.  Why?  Because only two came back the first time
with a good report – he was playing the odds.
So, the spies go into Jericho to check things
out.  They go to the house of Rahab the
harlot.  A stroke of genius – of course
she would have men at her house.  The
king of Jericho somehow found out they had come, and sent for them to be
captured.  But Rahab hid them on the rooftop,
among the stalks of flax spread for drying. 
She told them the men had left. 
She protected them.  Why?  After the men who had been looking for the
spies left, she went back to the rooftop, and we read her words – here’s why:
8 Now before they lay down, 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 the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.10 “For we have heard how 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 who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.11 “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.12 “Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth,13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”
That’s amazing. 
She got it right.  While the
Israelites were saying, they’re melting in fear because of us – Rahab
understood they were melting in fear because of the LORD – “for the LORD your
God, He is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.”  That is a statement of faith.  Which is why our author says, “By faith Rahab
the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient [the rest of
Jericho], after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”
This was a tremendous act of faith.  If the men had been discovered, they would
have been captured and killed, as well as she. 
There’s no telling what they would have done to her.  But by faith in the true and living God, she
hid the spies – and trusted God.  At what
could have been great personal cost.  You
see, it cost something to live by faith. 
This is the author’s point.  His readers were fearing for their lives
because of their faith.  And so the
author points them to Rahab.  The
harlot.  She lived in the city wall – we
know because when she helped the spies get away, she let them down with a rope
out her window, which was on the city wall. 
Which is amazing.  Remember, when
the Israelites circled the city seven times on that seventh day – let out a
shout – the wall fell down flat. 
Apparently all the wall, except where Rahab lived.  Another miraculous part of the story – if you
believe it.
She believed God – and God spared her life.  It’s interesting – this list of people by
name begins with Abel, righteous Able, who offered a worship of faith.  It ends with Rahab – the harlot – who offered
an obedience of faith.  That’s what James
says in his book – 2:25 – “In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also
justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another
way.”  She was justified by faith, and
proved it with her works. 
I find it interesting both the author of Hebrews
and James refer to her as Rabab, the harlot. 
We’re talking 1500 years later.  Will
that title always stick to her?  I think
it serves as a reminder to us who we were – before God saved us.  Undeserving, unfaithful, rebellious
sinners.  But by faith, He has
transformed our lives.  And it’s good,
perhaps, to remember what He saved us from – who we were before He changed our
lives.
In closing, I want you to think of something else
that struck me.  Why send the spies to
Jericho in chapter 2?  Sure, Joshua
didn’t know until the beginning of chapter 6 how he was going to take the city
– with that crazy plan – but God knew. 
And He knew back in chapter 2 – so why did He allow the spies to go to
Jericho?  Why didn’t He say, there’s no
need for that?  Was the information
gathered necessary for the conquest of the city?  Not exactly. 
If you’re going to conquer the city by destroying the walls – what
information was needed on the inside of the city? Nothing. 
So if the spies went not for necessary reconnaissance,
for what, or better, for whom did they go? 
To save Rahab.  As God was about
to destroy the city and its inhabitants – there was one of His own there.  And He sent the spies to preserve her
life.  Because, you see, there’s one
other place her name appears in the NT. 
It’s in Matthew chapter 1, where we read of the lineage of Joseph – the
earthly father of Jesus.  You see, for
Jesus to be the Messiah, He had to come from the line of David.  And in verses 5 and 6, we read these words, “5
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth,
and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the
king.”
Rahab was in the line of David, the king.  And while this is Joseph’s line and not
Mary’s – Luke 3 records that Mary, too, was of the line of David.  Which means that Rahab the harlot’s blood was
flowing through David’s veins – and through Jesus. 
What a beautiful picture of grace.  Rahab the believer – the one who acted on her
faith – was in the line of the Messiah – our Savior – Jesus Christ.  She may have been a harlot – but her life was
forever changed by the grace of God.  How
bad have you been?  Who were you?  What grace has He shown you?