"Behind the Walls"
Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
An alien woman has more faith than the Israelite nation itself. As a result, she is rewarded with the privilege of becoming a grandparent of both King David and the Messiah.
Beginning of the End
(Patriarchs and Prophets) ch. 45
The Miraculous Fall of Jericho
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
OVERVIEW
The Bible tells stories with the fewest possible words, though they’re packed with meaning.
As we await our heavenly promised land, stories like the ones in this week’s lesson invite us to explore both God’s mercy and His judgment.
OPENING ACTIVITY: CAN YOU PICTURE THAT?
Items needed: pens or pencils, index cards or equivalent
DISCUSSION
TRANSITION
In ancient Canaan, people were always one drought away from starvation. It’s no surprise, then, that so much of their religion centered around fertility, including sexually-oriented rituals intended to remind the gods that things needed to grow and reproduce down here on Earth. And when situations were at their worst, to get their gods’ attention they even sacrificed what was most valuable to them—their own children.
For hundreds of years God gave the Canaanites time to repent. The miracles and might displayed in the Israelites’ escape from Egypt and journey to the promised land demonstrated God’s supremacy in a language they could understand. Today we struggle with the story of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, as it’s so different from our calling as Christians to witness to our neighbors, letting the “tares” grow with the “wheat” (see the parable in Matthew 13:24-30). Yet as believers in Jesus’ Second Coming and the divine judgment to come, we know that soon God will destroy both sin and sinners in a final judgment.
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
A Great Fear Has Fallen
Joshua sent two spies into Canaan. Who are they? We’re not told. Why do they stay with a prostitute in Jericho, a rather surprising choice? That’s not explained either, except that it becomes clear that Rahab has been listening to the Holy Spirit, and we can guess that perhaps it was the Holy Spirit who nudged the spies to her home. Rahab recognizes that their God is God above all, and for that, she will be saved. She takes her place in the long ancestry of Jesus, one of the few women to be highlighted in His family tree (Matthew 1:5), and one of the few women mentioned among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.
Read Joshua 2:1-11.
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.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 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.”
4 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. 5 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.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 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.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 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. 10 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. 11 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.
DISCUSSION
Give Me a Sign
Take turns reading Joshua 2:12-24.
12 “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 13 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.”
14 “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.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 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.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
DISCUSSION
Holy Ground
Read Joshua 5:13-15.
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
DISCUSSION
Into Your Hands
Mercy and judgment. The Israelites’ weeklong march around Jericho can be seen not just as an exercise in faith for the Israelites, but as one last warning to the people of Jericho—judgment is coming, so now’s your chance to get out (see Jesus’ warning in Luke 21:20-21 for comparison).
Read Joshua 6:2-7.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” 7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”
Read Joshua 6:15-17.
15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.
Read Joshua 6:22-25.
22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.
DISCUSSION
APPLICATION
As we return to our everyday lives, consider:
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT
OVERVIEW
This Bible study explores Rahab's courageous story as found in Joshua 2. Students delve into why Rahab chose to help the Israelite spies, what she knew about God and the spies, and the risks involved in their brave choices. Through Rahab's actions, participants see her strong faith in God and her willingness to step out of her comfort zone. The study also prompts reflection on personal experiences with courageous choices and ways to show kindness to others, inspired by Rahab's example. The final questions encourage participants to consider the challenges of practicing bold faith and how God may be challenging them to step out in faith during the week ahead.
Rahab’s Bold Faith
What’s the most unexpected place you’ve hidden while playing hide and seek?
Read Joshua 2.
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.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 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.”
4 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. 5 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.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 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.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 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. 10 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.
11 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.
12 “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 13 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.”
14 “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.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 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.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
Read Joshua 6:25.
25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.
A. She heard about the amazing things God did for the Israelites.
B. She believed in the God of Israel.
C. She saw that Joshua had power and authority.
D. She wanted to protect herself.
E. She thought she could benefit from helping the spies.
F. She felt sorry for the Israelites and wanted to help them.
G. She took a risk and showed kindness by saving the spies.
I. Other.
A. She didn’t claim to know anything.
B. That the Lord had given them this land.
C. That the spies were double agents.
D. Many had a great fear of them already.
E. Her people heard about the drying of the Red Sea.
F. They heard about the seven plagues.
G. Reports of the destruction of enemy kingdoms.
H. Proclaimed God is God in heaven above and earth below.
I. Other.
A. They didn’t risk much.
B. They could have lost their lives.
C. Rahab risked betraying her own people in vain if caught.
D. The spies could have been rejected by their own people.
E. Rahab’s reputation and place in the community.
F. The safety of Rahab’s family.
G. The spies risked the mission’s success on trusting her word.
H. The spies could be sent to prison.
I. Other.
A. Hid the spies and kept them safe.
B. Never doubted or gave up, trusting God with her life.
C. Convinced her family to trust in the God of Israel.
D. I don’t think she showed faith in God.
E. Left behind her old beliefs and embraced the God of Israel.
F. Trusted God's guidance and played her part in His plan.
G. Took a brave step and helped the spies, even though it was hard.
H. Other.
A. Standing up to a bully or protecting a friend in a tough situation.
B. Speaking out against something unfair, even if others disagreed.
C. Trying something new or doing something scary but exciting.
D. Sharing my beliefs with others, even if it was hard to do.
E. Saying sorry and making things right when I did something wrong.
F. Sticking to what I believe, even if my friends had different ideas.
G. Facing a fear or overcoming a big challenge to reach my goal.
H. Other.
A. Listening and being there for a friend.
B. Helping someone who is having a hard time.
C. Including others and making sure everyone feels welcome.
D. Being patient and understanding with others, especially during disagreements.
E. Doing small acts of kindness, like holding the door or offering a smile.
F. Other.
SUMMARY
God's plan often unfolds in unexpected ways and through unlikely individuals. Rahab's simple act of kindness and her bold decision to trust in God had a profound impact on history (see Matthew 1:5, 16). Just like Rahab, we too have opportunities to step out of our comfort zones, make courageous choices, and show kindness to others. As we navigate life's challenges, let us embrace the assurance that God is with us, guiding our steps and empowering us to overcome our fears. Let us go forth with faith, knowing that even in the most unexpected places, God can use our lives to make a difference and reveal His love to those around us.
APPLICATION
Here are four ways to apply this week’s story and theme!
THE SCARLET CORD.
In Joshua 2, Rahab’s scarlet cord symbolizes her surrender and trust in God’s promise.
RAHAB THE FAITHFUL.
Rahab is often thought of as Rahab the harlot because of the life she lived before surrendering it to God.
Some ideas:
HIDDEN SURPRISES.
Make surprise gift baskets with snacks and small items to give anonymously in your neighborhood. Just like Rahab secretly hid the Israelite spies, don’t let anyone know it was you!
SONGS OF REDEMPTION.
and “Rahab’s Lullaby” by FAITHFUL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCE6x9mOBxU).
