Read Joshua 1:1–2
“Be strong and very brave. Make sure you … I know there’s something I’m supposed to remember here. I think I need some help. Signal for the first helper to carry out the “law” sign. Pretend to stretch your neck to try to read it. Oh yes, “Make sure you obey the whole law my servant Moses gave you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left. Then you will have success everywhere you go.” It helps to do just what God says.
Forty years earlier, Joshua had helped spy out the land. He remembered that the people in Canaan were very strong, so he decided to … what was it? I need some help here. Signal for the helper with the “spies” sign. Oh yes, Joshua decided to send two spies into Jericho, the first city the Israelites would attack. The spies could make sure everything was safe for God’s people to attack.
The spies got into Jericho, and there they met a woman named … named … what was her name? I’m having a bad day! Signal for the helper with the “Rahab” sign to come out. That’s right, Rahab! Rahab lived in a house attached to the city’s huge wall. It turned out Rahab knew about God and his plan, and she wanted to help keep the spies safe. It’s always good to have someone helping you out in a tough situation.
But then the king of Jericho heard the spies had come! He must have had some spies of his own. He sent a message to Rahab. It said, “Bring out the men who came to your house. They’ve come to check out the whole land.”
Rahab had heard the king’s spies coming and hid the Israelite spies … I know she hid them somewhere … in the closet … the crawl space … no, that’s not right. Where is that help when I need it? Signal for a helper with the “roof” sign to come out. She hid them on her roof! That’s right, under a pile of flax plants. She told the messengers, “It’s true the men were here. Go after them quickly. You might catch up with them.” The king’s men left to hunt down the Israelite spies.
Rahab went up to the roof to talk to the spies. She knew it was God’s plan to give the land to the Israelites.
Read Joshua 2:12–14
So Rahab let the spies down by … let’s see, the front door wouldn’t work, and there was no back door. Help! Signal for the helper with the “rope” sign to come. Rahab used a rope! She let them down with a rope through the window. She had said to them, “Go up into the hills. The men who are chasing you won’t be able to find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they return. Then you can go on your way.”
When the spies left, they went up into the hills. They stayed there for … let’s see, how long was that … a week? No, that’s too long … Signal for the helper with the “three days” sign to come. Three days! They stayed three days. By that time the men who were chasing them had searched all along the road. They couldn’t find them.
Read Joshua 2:23–24
Joshua liked the spies’ report. He knew it meant God would take care of them once they started fighting in Canaan. Joshua had all the Israelites pray and then get ready to attack Jericho.
God knew the spies would need some help, and he made sure Rahab was there to help them. He knows when you need help, too. And, he even knows when you might be able to be the one who helps.
Story # 8
Read Judges 16:1–31
Samson made some big mistakes, but when he turned to God, God was there. No matter what we do, God stays with us.
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