March 3, 2026 - Joshua 2-5

“And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’  And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there” (2:1-2).  Rahab had heard about the mighty acts of God on behalf of Israel, and she testified, “The LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” (2:11).  And so, once again, amongst a people hostile to God and to the truth, we come across one individual who stands up and apart from all the rest.  Enoch, Abraham, Job, Noah, Moses, Paul, Perpetua, and so many others.  The writer of Hebrews gives us other names:  “And what more shall I say?  For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight” (Hebrews 11:32-34).  Rahab, a harlot, stood up and the people crossed over the Jordan River and into the Promised Land.

Forward through the ages,

In unbroken line,

Move the faithful spirits

At the call divine.

Gifts in diff’ring measure,

Hearts of one accord,

Manifold the service,

One the sure reward.

Forward through the ages,

In unbroken line,

Move the faithful spirits

At the call divine.   -- Frederick L. Hosmer (1908)