Isaiah 1:18 (AV)
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.
- Jericho was a walled city built on a hill situated six miles north of the Dead Sea
It was surrounded by an inner and an outer wall.
- The outer wall was supported by a massive sloping stone structure (retainment wall).
- The retaining wall was about 12–15 feet high.
- On top of that was a wall six feet thick and about 20–26 feet high
- Another wall 12-15’ from the first at the top of the hill 6’ thick, and 20-26’ high.
- Between the two walls, houses have been found
- Humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the impregnable invincible Jericho.
- The wall of Jericho enclosed about 10 acres.
- Could walk around it in less than ½ hour
- 7th day may have taken 3 hours to circle it 7x
- Archaeologist's rule of thumb of 200 persons per acre
- At least 2000+ people
- Surrounding villages would have fled to Jericho for safety.
- Harvest had just been gathered Jos 2:6, 3:15
- The Ein Al-Sultan spring was located within the walls
- More than enough water for the entire population
- Prepared for a siege.
- Israel’s army had no siege engines, no battering rams, no catapults, and no moving towers.
- Their only weapons were slings, arrows, and spears—which were like straws against the walls of Jericho.
The Scarlet Rescue
Scarlet signaled her faith – Jos 2:18-21
Scarlet Lambs blood put on the door – Ex 12:22
Scarlet yarn is used to cleanse leprosy – Lev 14:2-7
Scarlet Robe – Mt 27:27-32 – Could not bare Jesus to be King
Rahab’s Journey
1. Condemned
- Rahab was:
• A women - Women had no direct access to power or decision making
- Had no rights
- Often treated with cruelty in war
Lamentations 5:11 (AV)
11 They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.
• Prostitute –Underclass
- The payment a prostitute received was considered like the price of a dog
Deuteronomy 23:18 (AV)
18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Leviticus 21:9 (AV)
9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
• A pagan
- Idolatrous
- No rights to the promise of God
Leviticus 18:24–25 (AV)
24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
- Yet she was saved by grace, through faith
2. Believed
- Faith began in hearing God’s Word.
- “We have heard…” –Joshua 2:10, 11
- She was also able to say, “I know…” – Joshua 2:9
3. Worked
- Gave them Protection Joshua 2:4-6
- Gave them assistance Joshua 2:15-16
- Greatest evidence of faith was the scarlet cord - Joshua 2:18, 21
- While the cord was in the window Rahab knew she was safe
- The only safe refuge for a is the blood of Jesus – 1 John 1:7.
4. Obeyed – Jos 2:18-22
- Left the Cord
- Invited her family to salvation
5. Triumphed
- A Member of the nation of Israel –Jos. 6:25
- Lineage of David to Jesus – Mt. 1:5-6
- Listed in Hebrews Hall of Fame – Heb. 11:31
Ephesians 3:20 (AV)
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
