“This oath will not be binding on us . . . unless you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down . . .” And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. (Joshua 2:17-18, 21)
More than 3,000 years ago, Rahab trusted in the God of Israel instead of the stone walls of the city of Jericho; and the rest, as they say, is His-story. Read on and be encouraged!
After aiding the Hebrew spies who came to scout the city by hiding them from the king of Jericho and then helping them safely escape, Rahab the prostitute was given a promise: when the Hebrew armies come to destroy the city of Jericho, you and your family will be saved . . . IF you hang a scarlet cord out of your window. Would Rahab trust in this promise from God’s people or would she trust in the protection of the walls of Jericho?
Joshua commanded the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. (Joshua 6:22-23)
Notice that Rahab’s decision to trust in the God of Israel had profound implications for all those in her family. The same is true for you and me today. Our decisions affect everyone around us. What we do and don’t do . . . what we say and don’t say . . . what we think and don’t think . . . all these impact those around us. As I’ve said here before, the well we drink from affects all those we drink with.
So . . . what well have you been drinking from lately? The well of this world or the well of God’s Word? Are you a “scarlet cord Christian,” trusting that God’s Word will come to pass, regardless of what is going on around you? Remember, as the walls of Jericho were tumbling down, Rahab held fast to her faith in the God of Israel, trusting that He would protect her and her family. The scarlet cord in her window was a sure sign of her faith in the One True and Living God.
One last thought: Rahab’s faith not only brought temporal blessing to her and her family, it brought eternal blessings as well. Rahab was ordained to be in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) and was awarded a special place in the “Faith Hall of Fame” (Hebrews 11:31), along with the likes of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to name just a few.
Let me present you with a second question today: What are you trusting in? The walls you have built up around you for protection? Or the Word of God, which will truly protect you from every attack of the enemy? Is there a “scarlet cord” hanging from your window? Is your faith in Jesus Christ on display for all the world to see? If not, I hope you’ll consider how you might make your faith as conspicuous as a scarlet cord to all the world. And be encouraged, because greater is the power that is in you than any power that can come against you.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 