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Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

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preserved by Rahab, a woman of Jericho, at the risk of her own life.

In return for her kindness, they promised her protection when the

city would be taken.

People of Jericho Already Terrified

The spies returned with the report, "Truly the Lord has

delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of

the country are fainthearted because of us." In Jericho they had been

told, "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 the

two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan,

Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we

heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any

more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He

is God in heaven above and on earth beneath."

Orders were now given to prepare to go forward. The people

were to take a three-day supply of food, and the army was to be

prepared for battle. Leaving their encampment, the host went down

to the edge of the Jordan river. Everyone knew that without God's

help they could not hope to cross the river. At this time of year the

melting snows of the mountains had raised the Jordan so that the

river overflowed, making it impossible to cross over. It was God's

will that the crossing of the Jordan should be miraculous.

By divine direction, Joshua commanded the people to put away

their sins and free themselves from all outward impurity, "for

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