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SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2- 4th Quarter 2025-Surprised by Grace
Richard Myers:
4th Quarter Lesson 2 October 4-10
Surprised by Grace
Commentary in Navy Inspiration in Maroon
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Josh. 2:1-21, Num. 14:1-12, Heb. 11:31, Exod. 12:13, Joshua 9, Neh. 7:25
Memory Text: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Hebrews 11:31
Why did I do this again? Perhaps we all have uttered these words. After all, history not only repeats itself, but so does humanity in general, and we ourselves in particular. How often we repeat the same mistakes!
What must we do that we sin not? Jesus told His disciples when in the Garden, but they did not obey. We must watch and pray.
Israel has a second chance of entering the Promised Land, and Joshua takes this mission seriously. The first step is to have a clear understanding of what they face. He sends out two spies to bring him valuable information about the land: its defense system, military preparedness, water supplies, and the attitude of the population in the face of an invading force.
One would think that God’s promise of giving the land to the Israelites did not require any effort from them. Yet the assurance of divine support does not override human responsibility. Israel stands at the border of Canaan for a second time. Expectations run high, but the last time Israel was at the border and had the same task, it resulted in an abysmal failure.
And why did they fail? We ought to have learned from their failure that we sin not. Israel is an ensample for those whom the end the world is come. Jesus would have come long ago if we had done the work entrusted to us.
--- Quote from: Richard Myers, Desire of Ages on October 04, 2025, 08:15:29 AM ---
By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord's return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God. 2 Peter 3:12, margin. Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory.
--- End quote ---
This week, we will explore two of the most fascinating stories of the book of Joshua and discover their relevance to our faith today. God’s grace has infinite possibilities to surprise us.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 11.
Richard Myers:
Sunday October 5
Second Chance
Read Joshua 2:1, along with Numbers 13:1-2, 25-28, 33; and Numbers 14:1-12. Why would Joshua start the mission of conquering the Promised Land by sending out spies?
The place from which the two spies are sent out, Acacia Grove (NKJV), is called “Shittim” in the Hebrew text, and it reminds us of two negative episodes of Israel’s history.
The first is another spy story (see Numbers 13) featuring the same essential elements: the commissioning of the spies; the secret incursion of the spies into enemy territory; the return of the spies; the report of the spies on their findings; and the decision to act based on the report.
The other incident at Shittim represents one of the most defiant, idolatrous violations of the covenant by the Israelites, when, at the instigation of Balaam, they committed a debauchery with the Moabite women and worshiped their gods (Num. 25:1-3, Num. 31:16). In this context, the name Shittim creates an extraordinary tension as to the outcome of the whole story. Will it be another failure on the border of the Promised Land? Or will it lead to the long-awaited fulfillment of the ancient promise?
Read John 18:16-18, 25-27, and John 21:15-19. What parallels do you discover between the second chance given to Israel as a nation and to Peter as a person?
Has God given you a second chance, and a third chance, and a fourth, and a fifth? How many times will God forgive you? God speaks to us that we sin not, but if we sin we still have an Advocate that gives us another chance. Is there an end to grace? Absolutely. Then ought we not make it clear when that time happens? Is there a science that we might know when grace is up? Yes. We are the ones who decide when our angel will leave us joined to our idols and go to help others. God gives us a period of time to learn of Him and to stop crucifying our Savior. It is a time of probation when we have temporal life. When one continues over and over to reject what the Holy Spirit is saying the person is developing a habit of disobedience. When the character becomes fixed and he can no longer hear that still small voice, then there is nothing more God can do. The probationary time has come to its end.
What are we doing today? Which way is our character being formed? Yes, you can tell if your character is not fixed.
God is a God of second chances (and more!). The Bible calls the second chance (and more!) “grace.” Grace is simply receiving what we don’t deserve. The teaching of the Bible is replete with the concept of grace (compare with Rom. 5:2, Eph. 2:8, Rom. 11:6). God graciously offers everyone the possibility of a fresh start (Titus 2:11-14). Peter himself experienced this grace and urged the church to grow in grace (2 Pet. 3:18). And the news gets even better: we get much more than a second chance, don’t we? (Where would we be if we didn’t?)
Think about the experience of the Israelites, when given a second chance to enter Canaan, and about the grace extended to Peter after he denied his Lord. What should these incidents teach us about how we should extend grace to those who need it?
The answer is always the same. If we love the Lord our God with the whole heart, then will we not extend grace to those within our sphere that need it? If we are not willing to extend grace to those who have offended us, will God forgive us when we ask for forgiveness? What does the Bible say? And if we are unwilling to forgive others, what does that say about our spiritual condition? Some will say that sinners are saved in sin, which means God will forgive us even if we do not repent. But, that is a lie. If we do not repent, God will not forgive us. But, what does He do? He stands at the door of the heart wanting in.
Richard Myers:
Monday October 6
Value in Unexpected Places
Read Joshua 2:2-11, Hebrews 11:31, and James 2:25.
2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they [were]:
2:5 And it came to pass [about the time] of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
2:7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
2:11 And as soon as we had heard [these things], our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?
What do these texts tell us about Rahab?
She believed in the Lord our God.
Central to Rahab’s story is the lie told to protect the spies. In considering her lie, we have to realize that she was embedded in a society that was extremely sinful, which finally led to God’s decision to judge that society (Gen. 15:16, Deut. 9:5, Lev. 18:25-28). While it is true that the New Testament commends her faith, a careful analysis of the New Testament references to Rahab’s act reveals that none endorse everything about her, and none validate her lie.
Hebrews 11:31 confirms her faith in casting her lot with the spies instead of choosing to hold on to a corrupt culture. James 2:25 commends her offer of lodging to the two Israelite spies and for giving them directions on how to return by a safe route. In the middle of a decadent, corrupt culture and Rahab’s own sinful lifestyle, God, in His grace, saw a spark of faith through which He could save her. God used what was good in Rahab—which was manifest faith in Him and in her choice to belong to His people—but never commended everything she did. God valued Rahab for her exceptional courage, for her brave faith, for being an agent of salvation, and for choosing Israel’s God.
After seeing what was happening, she declared, “for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” Josh. 2:11. It’s significant to hear a Canaanite woman acknowledging that Yahweh is the only God, especially on a roof where, in her pagan religion, prayers were usually offered to what they believed were celestial deities.
The expression of Rahab is previously found only in the context of God’s exclusive right to receive worship (Exod. 20:4, Deut. 4:39, Deut. 5:8). Her words bear witness to a premeditated, conscientious choice to acknowledge that the God of the Israelites is the only true deity. Her confession demonstrates her understanding of the close relationship between God’s sovereignty and the judgment under which Jericho is doomed.
Her moral choice recognizes that, in light of Yahweh’s judgment, there were only two possibilities: to continue in rebellion against Him and be annihilated, or to choose to surrender in faith. By choosing the God of the Israelites, Rahab became an example of what could have been the destiny of all the inhabitants of Jericho had they turned to Israel’s God for mercy.
What does this story teach us about how God must have our ultimate allegiance?
There is no in-between. We either serve God or Satan. Was Rahab saved by works? Or by faith? Or by both? She showed her faith by her works.
Richard Myers:
Tuesday October 7
New Allegiance
Read Joshua 2:12-21 and Exodus 12:13, 22, 23.
2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
2:13 And [that] ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
2:14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house [was] upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
2:16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
2:17 And the men said unto her, We [will be] blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
2:18 Behold, [when] we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
2:19 And it shall be, [that] whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood [shall be] upon his head, and we [will be] guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood [shall be] on our head, if [any] hand be upon him.
2:20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
2:21 And she said, According unto your words, so [be] it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.
12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that [is] in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite [you].
How do the texts in Exodus help you understand the agreement between the spies and Rahab?
Rahab’s deal is very clear: life for life and kindness for kindness. The word cḥesed (Josh. 2:12), “loving-kindness,” has a richness of meaning that is difficult to express in one word in other languages. It refers primarily to covenantal loyalty, but it also carries the notion of faithfulness, mercy, benevolence, and kindness.
The words of Rahab are also reminiscent of Deuteronomy 7:12, where Yahweh Himself swore to keep His cḥesed toward Israel. “ ‘Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy [cḥesed] which He swore to your fathers’ ” (Deut. 7:12, NKJV).
Interestingly enough, the same chapter (Deuteronomy 7) prescribes the ban (cḥerem) on the Canaanites. Here is Rahab, a Canaanite who is under the ban, and yet she claims, by her emerging faith, the promises that were given to the Israelites. As a result, she is saved.
The first image that inevitably comes to mind related to the conversation of the spies with Rahab is the Passover at the Exodus. There, in order for the Israelites to be protected, they had to stay inside their homes and mark the doorposts and lintels of their houses with the blood of the sacrificial lamb.
“ ‘ “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” ’ ” (Exod. 12:13, NKJV; see also Exod. 12:22-23).
“By obedience the people were to give evidence of their faith. So all who hope to be saved by the merits of the blood of Christ should realize that they themselves have something to do in securing their salvation. While it is Christ only that can redeem us from the penalty of transgression, we are to turn from sin to obedience. Man is to be saved by faith, not by works; yet his faith must be shown by his works.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 279.
Amen! Our works reveal our saving faith. When we turn from sinning we not only reveal our faith, we glorify God by reflecting His character. Our filthy clothes have been removed. Then the heathen will know there is a God of great power and love (Eze. 36:23).
In that case, the blood was a sign that saved them from the destroying angel of God. As God spared the lives of the Israelites during the last plague in Egypt, the Israelites were to save Rahab and her family when destruction reached Jericho.
What powerful gospel message can we find in these two stories? What gospel lessons can we take from them?
God wants to save everyone, but while many are called, few choose to follow Him. Let us consider the gospel before coming to a conclusion as to when we are saved. The everlasting covenant made before the foundation of the Earth was laid promises that God will give us a hatred for Satan and sin. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his Heel." Gen. 3:15. There are conditions to be met before God will transform us. One condition is spelled out in the verse. Jesus must suffer for every sin of every person who shall ever live. What is the other condition? That who ever will be transformed will love the Lord with all of the heart. Then God will give us a new heart and new Spirit will He put in us. To help all who have been deceived, let us spell out what this means. One who is filled with the Spirit is a partaker of God's divine nature. When one is filled with the Spirit, he does not sin and he manifests all of the fruits of the Spirit, not one is missing. Here are they who keep His commandments and the faith of Jesus. Is this you and me? When one is saved (transformed) he does not sin. Now this flies in the face of most professed Christians for they believe they have eternal life when they sin, a sin unto death. What is that? A known sin is a sin which reveals one does not have eternal life. When one is filled with the Spirit he cannot sin. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." 1 John 3:7-10.
This is the gospel message and any who preach otherwise is cursed. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8,9.
When one becomes aware of the gospel truth, one has to wonder why we never have read or heard of these truths in our Sabbath School or from our pulpits? If you have heard these truths, they praise the Lord, you have been greatly blessed!
Richard Myers:
Wednesday October 8
Conflicting Values
Read Joshua 9:1-20.
9:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof];
9:2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
9:4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
9:5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy.
9:6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
9:7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
9:8 And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?
9:9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
9:10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth.
9:11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
9:12 This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
9:13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the LORD.
9:15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
9:16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them.
9:17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
9:18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
9:19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
9:20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
What are the similarities and differences between the story of Rahab and that of the Gibeonites? Why are they meaningful?
This chapter of Joshua starts by informing us that the Canaanite kings who usually ruled over small city-states decided to create a coalition against the Israelites. By contrast, the inhabitants of Gibeon decided to establish a covenant with Israel.
In order to trick the Israelites into making a covenant with them, the Gibeonites resort to the scheme of being ambassadors from a foreign country. According to Deuteronomy 20:10-18, God made a distinction between the Canaanites and people who lived outside the Promised Land.
The word translated as “craftily” or “cunningly” can be used with a positive meaning, denoting prudence and wisdom (Prov. 1:4; Prov. 8:5, 12), or negatively, implying criminal intent (Exod. 21:14, 1 Sam. 23:22, Ps. 83:3). In the case of the Gibeonites, behind their treacherous action lies a less-destructive intent of self-preservation.
The speech of the Gibeonites is strikingly similar to that of Rahab. Both acknowledge the power of Israel’s God, and both acknowledge that Israel’s success is not simply a human feat. In contrast to other Canaanites, they do not rebel against Yahweh’s plan to grant the land to the Israelites, and they admit that the Lord Himself is driving these nations out before Israel. The news of the deliverance from Egypt, and the victories over Sihon and Og, prompt both Rahab and the Gibeonites to seek an alliance with the Israelites. However, instead of fully acknowledging their willingness to surrender to the God of Israel, as Rahab does, the Gibeonites resort to a subterfuge.
The law of Moses made provisions for learning the will of God in cases such as this (Num. 27:16-21). Joshua should have inquired for the will of the Lord and avoided the deception of the Gibeonites.
The fundamental duty of a theocratic leader, and of any Christian leader, is to seek God’s will (1 Chron. 28:9, 2 Chron. 15:2, 2 Chron. 18:4, 2 Chron. 20:4). By neglecting it, the Israelites were compelled either to violate the fundamental conditions of conquering the land or to break an oath made in the name of the Lord, which was equally binding.
It is true that the Gibeonites violated the contract based on their lies. But, they agreed to worship God, therefore Joshua allowed them to live.
The Gibeonites had pledged themselves to renounce idolatry and accept the worship of Jehovah, and the preservation of their lives was not a violation of God’s command to destroy the idolatrous Canaanites. Though the oath had been secured by deception, it was not to be disregarded. No consideration of gain, of revenge, or self-interest can in any way affect the inviolability of an oath or pledge. He that “shall ascend into the hill of the Lord,” and “stand in His holy place,” is “he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Psalm 24:3; 15:4. EP 359.
How often have you found yourself struggling between what appears to be two conflicting biblical values?
It was not for the good of Isarael that Joshua entered into the contract. Because the Gibeonites lied, they suffered the results of being slaves to Israel. If we do not depend upon the wisdom of God, we too will end up in perplexing situations. When will we learn to watch and pray before moving forward?
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