Title: God’s Scarlet Thread
Theme: Show how God can change a destiny by salvation.
Text: Joshua 2:1-17, Hebrews 11:31, Matthew 1:5-6
Heb 11:31 NKJV By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
Joshua 2:1-17
Mat 1:5-6 NKJV Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, (6) and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.
Introduction
As I read Joshua chapter 2 what amazes me is the change that happens to Rahab and her family. We are first introduced to Rahab here in chapter 2 and what we here is that she was a harlot. In other words she was a prostitute, a “woman of the night”. She was not well respected.
But then we read in Matthew 1 Rahab begot (bore) Boaz (Remember the wife of Ruth in the book of Ruth) who bore Obed who bore Jesse and we know that Jesse was the father of David who became the greatest King of Israel. But even better every king was pattern after him and most importantly was even Jesus came out of his line.
You could say that Rahab was the great great great great great great great (with a few more greats) grandmother of Jesus. WOW!
Rahab was the great great grandmother of David
Something happened that would change her mind. Something happened that would change her destiny and the destiny of her children. Could it be true that something could happen
Illustration:
There was a comparison that was done many years ago between Jonathan Edward ( an 18th century preacher) and Max Jukes and atheists who lived at the same time. I know I have read this but I believe that it is important.
"Max Jukes, the atheist, lived a godless life. He married an ungodly girl, and from the union there were 310 who died as paupers (people who depended on the state), 150 were criminals, 7 were murderers, 100 were drunkards, and more than half of the women were prostitutes. His 540 descendants cost the State one and a quarter million dollars.
Jonathan Edwards: He lived at the same time as Max Jukes, but he married a godly girl. An investigation was made of 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards of which 13 became college presidents, 65 college professors, 3 United States senators, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 authors of prominence, one a vice-president of the United States, 80 became public officials in other capacities, 295 college graduates, among whom were governors of states and ministers to foreign countries. His descendants did not cost the state a single penny.
“The memory of the just is blessed’ (Prov. 10:7)."
So again what happened to Rahab:
I. Rahab listened to the Testimonies of God Joshua 2:9-11
Joshua 2:9 and (she) said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. (10) "For 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. (11) "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.
Israel had a reputation. They had a good reputation and their reputation had proceeded them. You see they word was out and the nations were listening. God was working in Israel. This slave nation. These people who knew nothing but slavery
II. Rahab risked everything to become a true follower of God
She risked it all to become a follower of the “true” God. It is interesting that in these scriptures she uses the term “Jehovah” for God. That is why it is capitalized in your Bible. It means the one and only true God.
She was willing to give up everything. Her life as a prostitute. Her reputation in the city. Her walls. To follow God. She was even willing to risk her family.
She knew that something was up and had to make a decision.
III. Rahab would not go unless her family could come to. Joshua 2:12-13
"Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, (13) "and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."
As the Jailer in Acts
Act 16:30-34 NKJV And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (31) So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (32) Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. (33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. (34) Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Think about it. Both Rahab and this jailer took advantage of an opportunity to change their family. I wonder what would happen if somebody here today gave their heart the Lord. I wonder what would happen if some Christian here today would get on fire for God and start serving Him with more vigor and passion like never before.
I wonder whose family would change. I wonder whose destiny would change.
Conclusion
It is interesting to note how this story pans out. We lean later on in this chapter that Rahab and the two spies came to an agreement. When Israel came to the city they would look for a scarlet thread that was hanging from a window. Everyone who was in that house hold would be saved. But you had to 1) trust the Lord by not giving up the plans to the city of Jericho (risk her life & family) 2) you had to be in the room. This room was a place of protection symbolized by the scarlet thread.
The good news is there is a scarlet thread that runs down to us today. This scarlet thread is stained with the blood of Jesus who died for us on the cross. To be saved we have to do two things. 1) surrender our life over to Christ 2) let the blood of Jesus cover our sins. Come into the protection of the Lord.
Other Scriptures
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Re 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
