Sermon Notes

When most people think about the book of Joshua, they imagine battles, marching armies, and walls falling down. But before the fighting begins, God spends time forming His people. Joshua 1–5 shows us that preparation comes before victory, and faith is formed long before the first battle is fought.

In Joshua 2, that formation takes an unexpected turn. Joshua sends spies into Jericho, and the first person in the land to demonstrate real faith is not a warrior or priest. It is Rahab, a Gentile woman living inside a city under judgment. Through Joshua’s trust and Rahab’s courage, we see a powerful picture of what real faith looks like.

This weekend, we explore how faith acts, sees clearly, surrenders fully, obeys faithfully, and ultimately rests in the promises of God. Jericho looked strong from the outside, but inside the city fear had already taken hold. God was already at work before Israel ever arrived.

If you’ve ever wondered what real faith looks like in everyday life, Joshua 2 gives a clear and hopeful answer. Faith begins with grace, moves forward in obedience, and rests in the certainty that God keeps every promise He makes.

Key Takeaways

Faith acts because God’s promises are trustworthy.
Grace reaches people no one expects.
Faith sees what others overlook.
Surrender places our lives in God’s hands.
Obedience reveals genuine faith.
God’s promises give believers confidence before the battle.
Discussion Questions

What obstacles in your life feel like Jericho’s walls?
How does Rahab’s story reveal the reach of God’s grace?
Where might God be calling you to take a step of faith?
What does obedience look like in your current season?
How can you rest more deeply in God’s promises this week?

Transcript

Faith Inside the Walls

When most people think about the book of Joshua, they picture action scenes. Armies marching. Trumpets sounding. Walls collapsing. And those moments do come. But when you read the opening chapters of the book, something surprising appears. The battles do not start immediately. Instead, God spends time forming His people.

Joshua 1–5 functions almost like spiritual boot camp. God shapes His people through His Word, teaches them to trust Him through the crossing of the Jordan, and reminds them of their identity through covenant renewal. Before Israel ever fights a battle, God prepares their hearts.

Right in the middle of that preparation comes Joshua 2. At first it looks like a military operation. Joshua sends spies into Jericho to scout the land. But the story quickly becomes about something deeper. It becomes a story about faith.

Grace in an Unexpected Place

The spies arrive in Jericho and enter the house of a woman named Rahab. Everything about her background makes the story surprising. She is a Gentile. She is part of a culture under judgment. And Scripture tells us plainly that she was a prostitute.

From a human perspective, she seems like the least likely person to become an example of faith. Yet Joshua 2 begins not with destruction but with mercy. Before Jericho ever falls, God reaches into the city and rescues someone from it.

Rahab’s story reminds us that faith always begins with grace. Long before she risks anything for God, God’s mercy has already reached into her life.

Seeing What Others Miss

Rahab explains why she believes. She has heard about what God has done. She heard about the Red Sea. She heard about the defeat of Israel’s enemies. And from those reports she draws a remarkable conclusion.

“The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.”

Everyone in Jericho had heard the same stories. But Rahab saw what the rest of the city missed. Fear spread through the city, but faith took root in her heart.

Real faith does not invent reasons to believe. It sees clearly what God has already done.

Faith That Surrenders and Obeys

Rahab does more than acknowledge the truth about God. She surrenders to Him. She places her life and the lives of her family into His hands.

The spies give her a simple instruction. Tie a scarlet cord in the window and gather your family inside the house. When Jericho falls, the house marked by that cord will be spared.

From a human perspective, the instruction might seem strange. A cord in a window does not look like much protection. But Rahab obeys because she trusts the promise she has been given.

Real faith always moves toward obedience.

Resting in God’s Promise

When the spies return to Joshua, their report is striking. They say with confidence, “The Lord has given us the land.”

Jericho’s walls are still standing. The battle has not even begun. But faith sees something deeper. God has already spoken. And if God has spoken, the outcome is never uncertain.

Joshua 2 ends with that quiet confidence. Real faith acts. Real faith obeys. And real faith ultimately rests in the certainty that God will keep every promise He has made.