Quick Note – Joshua 2:21 – The Scarlet Cord

Joshua 2:18-21 – 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

There are a lot of things that people can procrastinate on.  You can procrastinate on writing the twenty-page term paper that is due the next day for half of your final grade in college.  You can procrastinate on filling out your voting cards for the primary election.  You can procrastinate on cleaning your house, washing your car, or doing the laundry.  You can even procrastinate on paying your taxes.  It might incur you some heavy fines, but you can still live your life if after the warnings, you get them in. 

However, one thing you should never procrastinate on is giving your life to Jesus Christ.  We never know when we might die.  It can happen suddenly and without warning.  Even the healthiest can suffer an unexpected stroke.  Even the safest driver can end up in a traffic accident.  We never know when our lives here on this earth will end.  Ecclesiastes 9:12 says, “For man does not know his time.  Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.”  So one should never delay coming to Christ. 

Our passage today talks about how Rahab after hiding the two spies of Israel who came into Jericho asked them to let her and her family live.  She had shown kindness and mercy by hiding them, so she was hoping that they would show mercy in return.  The spies then told her that she needed to tie the scarlet cord which she let them escape with to her window and that would be a sign for them.  After they left, she tied the cord.  Although verse 21 doesn’t tell us she did it immediately, it sounds like she did.  She didn’t delay.  She didn’t procrastinate.  She didn’t want to take the risk that she would forget or the cord would be lost or that they would return to conquer that moment.  She likely immediately tied the cord. 

We have one cord for salvation, and that cord is Jesus Christ.  When we accept Him into our hearts, we are tying His blood as a cord upon our hearts to show that we are saved by His grace and mercy.  It is a sign that when we die, we are promised salvation through Him.  So don’t delay.  You never know when you might go from this earth to the next.  You never know if Christ may be coming back this exact moment.  If you wait too long, you may miss the chance.  Behold,  now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Quick Note – Joshua 6:22-25 – First of Her Family

Joshua 6:22-25 – 22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

I grew up in a Christian family, so I don’t really understand the fear that comes and the courage that it takes to be the first person in your family or friend group to become a Christian.  I don’t know what it feels like to choose to be different than all your other family members – to be set apart – to turn to God and to turn away from your former beliefs.  I have not had to deal with persecution or disrespect from family and friends.  I have not had to deal with being ostracized from my social groups.  I have not had to wonder whether my mom or dad, brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles would become Christians as well.  Fortunately for me, most of my family members were already Christians when I became one.  However, I don’t discount the struggles that must come with those who aren’t as fortunate.  It must be hard.  However, I want to share with you today a story about a person in the Bible who was the first in her family and probably her nation to choose to turn to God.  And because of her choice, her whole family was saved. 

In Joshua 2, two Israelite spies were sent into Canaan to observe the land before they would enter and conquer it.  The Canaanites were very fearful of the Israelites.  They knew all that God had done for them.  They had heard about the parting of the Red Sea.  They had heard about the defeat of the powerful kings on the other side of the Jordan.  They knew that God was with Israel, and He was the Almighty God.  Because of this fear, they sought to capture the spies.  To avoid capture, the two spies hid in the house of a prostitute named Rahab.  She hid them, in exchange, for her and her family’s life.  She told them that because she had chosen to protect them, in exchange, they should swear to spare her family when they entered the land.  The spies agreed to this deal and told her that if she wanted her and her family to be safe, they would need to stay in her house and to tie a red scarlet cord at the window for identification.  Everyone who was in the house would be spared, but anyone who chose not to stay, their blood would be on their own head.  Rahab chose to trust these words, gathered her family into her house, and were saved. 

Unlike the people of Canaan who continued to try to fight against God and Israel, Rahab chose to humbly place her trust in that God.  She recognized that the God of Israel was the “God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11).  She knew that this God was giving this land to Israel, and her only way to be saved was to humbly submit to Him.  She trusted that this God was merciful and that His people were merciful and trustworthy and decided to protect the spies.  By taking a stand against her nation, against her people, against her former beliefs and life, and by placing her trust in the God of Israel, not only was she saved, but her whole family as well. 

This same God of Israel is the God of the Bible.  This God sent His Son to die for our sins on the cross.  He promises that those who call upon His name, who place their faith and trust in Him will be saved from the power and punishment of sin.  All one has to do is believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin, which is death, and that He rose again to give new life to those who would believe that He could save them.  Now, I know that it’s tough.  I know that it must be scary to take this leap of faith – to jump into this unknown alone – to abandon your former beliefs (if you had any) and to trust in God.  I know that it must be especially hard when your family does not believe or may even be against it.  But look at Rahab.  She did what no one else in her nation was doing.  She trusted in God, when everyone else wouldn’t.  And because of her choice, eventually, her whole family was saved.  Now, I can’t guarantee that if you become a Christian, your whole family will turn to God as well.  But I do believe that our God is merciful and loving, and that if you trust in Him, He can make you the light that helps draw your family and friends to Him.  Additionally, you will be welcomed to a new family – the family of God, who has been waiting with open arms for you.  Don’t let fear keep you from God.  Place your faith and trust in Him today.