The Undercover Adventist

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 2 -  Tuesday Commentary Marked by the Scarlet Sign Scripture: Joshua 2:12–21; Exodus 12:13, 22–23 When the spies agreed with Rahab, they gave her a sign—a scarlet cord to hang from her window. That cord would mark her house as a place of safety, just as the blood on the doorposts marked the homes of the Israelites during the first Passover. In both stories, death and destruction were coming, but deliverance was granted to those covered by the sign of blood. The Exodus texts remind us that salvation is not based on personal worth, but on God’s promise. The Israelites were not spared because of their righteousness, but because of the blood of the lamb. Likewise, Rahab and her family were not spared because of her past, but because she trusted in God’s word and displayed the scarlet cord. Both the lamb’s blood in Egypt and Rahab’s cord in Jericho point us to the greater blood of Christ, who saves us from eternal destruction....

   Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 2 -  Monday Commentary Rahab’s Righteous Deception In Joshua 2:2–11, Rahab the harlot chose to hide the Israelite spies and mislead the king of Jericho’s men. To some, this may seem like sin. But Scripture itself tells us how God viewed her choice: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31). James echoes this: “Was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (James 2:25). Her deception was not sinful—it was an act of faith, aligning herself with God’s people and God’s purposes, even when it meant defying her own nation. Rahab was not the first to make such a choice. The midwives in Exodus refused Pharaoh’s orders and lied about why they would not kill the Hebrew infants. Scripture says God blessed them for it (Exodus 1:17–21). Joseph also disguised his identi...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 2 -  Sunday Commentary Second Chances When Joshua prepared Israel to enter the Promised Land, his very first step was to send out spies to Jericho (Joshua 2:1). At first glance, this may seem like a repetition of the earlier mission in Numbers 13, when twelve spies brought back a fearful report that led to Israel’s rebellion (Numbers 13:25–28, 33; 14:1–12). That decision delayed Israel’s entry into the land for forty years. Why, then, would Joshua risk making the same move? The difference lies in the second chance God was giving His people. The first mission ended in doubt, fear, and disobedience. The second began with faith, preparation, and trust in God’s promises. This time, Israel would not fail. Joshua’s choice to send spies wasn’t a lack of faith—it was wisdom guided by faith. God was redeeming what had once been a place of failure. We see a similar story in Peter’s life. On the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied h...

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  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 1 - Friday Further Thought Promises and Obedience in Harmony The relationship between God’s promises and our obedience is not one of opposition, but of complement. God’s promises reveal His grace, while our obedience shows our trust in His faithfulness. The two move together, hand in hand. In Joshua 1:7–8, the Lord told Joshua to be “careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you… then you will be prosperous and successful.” The promise of victory in Canaan was certain, but Israel’s participation depended on their willingness to walk in obedience. God had already given them the land (Joshua 1:3), but they were called to step forward in faith and act on His word. If we overemphasize law at the expense of grace, we risk falling into legalism—forgetting that every command God gives is built upon His prior love and promise. Joshua and Israel were not earning the land; it was God’s gift. In the New Testament, Paul warns a...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 1 - Thursday Commentary Prosperous and Successful In Joshua 1:7–9, the Lord calls Joshua to be strong and courageous, to keep His law, and to meditate on it day and night. The promise is clear: if Joshua does this, he will be prosperous and successful. But what do those words mean in God’s eyes? The Bible consistently defines prosperity and success not in terms of wealth, status, or ease, but in terms of walking in God’s will. Abraham’s servant in Genesis 24:40 was “prospered” on his mission because God’s angel went before him. Isaiah 53:10 tells us that the suffering Servant, though crushed, would “prosper” in the will of the Lord. Psalm 1:1–3 paints the picture of true success: the one who delights in God’s law is like a tree planted by streams of water, fruitful and enduring. In all these passages, prosperity means aligning our lives with God’s Word and bearing fruit for His glory. Romans 3:31 reminds us that faith does ...

Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 1 - Wednesday Commentary Be Strong! In Joshua 1:7–9, the Lord repeats His call for Joshua to “be strong and courageous.” The repetition was no accident. Joshua stood on the threshold of a daunting mission—leading a people into a hostile land, conquering fortified cities, and carrying forward the legacy of Moses. The Lord emphasized strength and courage twice because Joshua’s greatest battles would not only be against external enemies but also against fear, doubt, and the temptation to rely on his own wisdom. True strength does not come from physical power or human strategy, but from obedience to God’s Word. The Lord told Joshua to meditate on the Law day and night and not to turn from it to the right or to the left. His courage was to be rooted in God’s presence and promises. In the same way, our spiritual struggles today require more than willpower—they demand dependence on the Lord who goes before us. Although we are not called ...

Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 1 - Tuesday Commentary Heirs of Promises In Joshua 1:4–6, God lays before Joshua the boundaries of a land not yet conquered, yet already spoken of as theirs. At that moment, the Promised Land was still filled with enemies and obstacles, but God did not call it a possibility—He called it an inheritance. An inheritance is not earned; it is received because of relationship. Israel’s claim to the land rested not on their strength, but on the unshakable promise of the Lord. Hebrews 6:17–18 reminds us that God confirmed His promises with an oath, “so that by two unchangeable things…we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.” To be heirs of God’s promises means that what He has spoken is guaranteed. His promises are not wishful thinking; they are an inheritance secured by His character and confirmed by His word. We are not striving to create the blessing, but to receive what God has already declar...