Dear Parents,
The Lord brought His
people into the promised land. Now they had a task set before them: conquer the
people living in the land. Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River,
Joshua—in the way Moses had done decades before—sent scouts into the land. (See
Num. 13:2-3.) The first city the Israelites came to was Jericho. God told
Joshua that He had handed the city over to Israel.
The Lord’s reputation
went ahead of the Israelites, creating fear in the people of Jericho. With the
exception of one woman, the people of Jericho wanted nothing to do with God.
Rahab was unique
among the inhabitants of Jericho. She wanted to be on God’s side. Hebrews 11:31
says that by faith, Rahab “welcomed the spies in peace.” Rahab didn’t hide the
spies and help them escape from the city because she was especially courageous
or because she had a strong desire to live; Rahab acted by faith. By faith Rahab believed God would win the
battle, and she asked the spies to show mercy to her family and keep them safe.
When the Israelites attacked Jericho, Rahab and her family received mercy and
became part of God’s people. Jesus has won against sin and death. Everyone who
trusts in Jesus receives mercy and becomes part of God’s family forever.
Rahab wasn’t the only
one trusting in God. The Israelites fought the battle of Jericho by faith. (See
Heb. 11:30.) Israel did not focus on what was going on inside the city of
Jericho; they focused on doing what God had instructed. They obeyed even when
it seemed nothing was happening. On the seventh day, the troops shouted, the
trumpets sounded, and the wall around Jericho collapsed.
Joshua gave the
people specific instructions to destroy everything in the city except for Rahab
and her family. The Israelites were not to keep anything for themselves. The
Lord would provide for all of their needs, so they had no reason to plunder
Jericho. When the Israelites attacked Jericho, Rahab and her family were safe.
They joined God’s people. (Josh. 6:25) By faith, we believe Jesus has defeated
sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is safe and becomes part of God’s
family forever.
Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture
Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact
with the Bible content this week.
FAMILY
STARTING POINTS
- Babies and Toddlers
- God is always with us.
- Rahab hid the spies.
- God made the walls of Jericho fall down.
- God used Rahab’s family in His plan to send Jesus.
- Preschool.
- How can we glorify God? We can glorify God by loving Him and obeying Him.
- God brought down the walls of Jericho.
- Kids
- How can we glorify God? We can glorify God by loving Him and obeying
Him.
- God brought down the walls of Jericho.
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