RAHAB'S SCARLET CORD OF REDEMPTION
SCRIPTURE READING:
Joshua 2:15-21 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” 17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
INTRODUCTION:
Our story in Joshua chapter 2 is about the two spies sent to Jericho by Joshua.
They entered the house of Rahab, the prostitute and spent the night there.
The King of Jericho heard about these two spies and orders Rahab to surrender them immediately.
But Rahab hides the Israelite spies on the roof and covered them, explaining that they have already fled.
While the soldiers go off in search of the Israelites, Rahab goes to her roof to cut a deal with the two spies.
She explains that "all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before them because of what they done to the Egyptians."
Rahab then asked for the protection of her own family from the destruction at hand.
As it turns out, Rahab is a prostitute with a heart of gold.
The spies return in kind, and promised to protect them in one condition.
Rahab must tie a crimson cord in the window of the day of the Israelite invasion.
Otherwise, her family will be killed along with the rest of the city dwellers.
Then, the spies scale down the great wall of Jericho on the crimson cord that hung outside Rahab's window.
It was this same scarlet cord that would be the basis of their salvation as well.
The spies returned safely to Joshua and reported all that has happened.
I've got this news article from Christianpost.com website.
If you have been following the news lately, you would have read about the hacking of the Ashley Madison website.
This website also called as adultery facilitation site was designed for married people who want to cheat on their spouses.
The website's motto is "Life is short, have an affair."
But after it was hacked, there was a public posting on-line of about 37 million users with their names, home addresses, financial data and message history that has caused tremendous uproar.
Avid Life Media, the Toronto - based company that runs this extramarital website Ashley Madison has offered a $500,000 reward for the information leading to the arrest of those who hacked the website.
Also, several multi-million dollar lawsuits have been filed against Avid Life Media for inadequate security in protecting its customer's data.
But this hacking has already led to numerous extortion attempts and several unconfirmed suicides in Texas and in Canada.
A number of marriages are now at risk while some exposed users have been faced with extreme humiliation.
This might even lead to more families filing for divorce.
Why is there such an alarm for those whose names were in the Ashley Madison website?
Because of the devastating shame, the guilt and embarrassment of their sins being made in public.
There is a damaging ripple effect with the exposure of their infidelity.
There is also the unbearable pain of scandalizing and shattering the confidence of children who have looked up to them.
They thought that they have completely erased what they have been viewing on the internet, but they were wrong.
Their past had haunted them and severely affected their integrity and their future.
We might ask: Is this part of the signs of the End Times when moral corruption and decay had pervaded to the very fabric of our society?
We have not yet recovered from the shock of the approval of gay-marriages by the Supreme Court, now this.
Is there moral purity left in our nation?
Is there a way that we could be delivered from such moral corruption?
There is a good news.
The sin of adultery can be very devastating but there is a God who can give life and restore.
That is why today, we are going to talk about the scarlet cord of redemption.
Joshua 2:18 (NIV) "18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house."
Rahab was saved from destruction of the city because she had enough faith in God to hang a red rope out of her window.
When she hung that scarlet cord in her window, she was saved from destruction including her entire family in that house.
This blood red rope is a type or a picture of the blood-red scarlet that runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Many people down through the ages have been saved through that scarlet cord of redemption.
This is the symbol of the blood of Christ that has saved us from the corruption and punishment of sin.
We are going to study today at the life of Rahab, the harlot who is an example of the grace of God at work.
Her salvation was not based on her character or personal merits because there was nothing in her that was good.
She lived in a doomed city, she practiced a condemned profession.
She engaged in subversive activities and falsified or lied about her actions.
Yet, she acted in faith based on her knowledge about God and was consequently spared from the judgment of God.
This was her scarlet cord that led to her deliverance.
In addition to her salvation, she was rewarded beyond measure through her generational offspring.
She was brought into the family of Israel, made a partaker of all the covenants and the promises of God.
And ultimately, she became the mother of Boaz, the great grandmothers of King David, and an ancestress of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He name is included in one of the four women listed in Jesus' genealogy of Matthew 1:5 (NIV) "5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,"
She even entered the eleven chapter of Hebrews containing the impressive list of the heroes of faith.
Hebrews 11:31 (NIV) 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient."
Amazing. A prostitute who was saved because she had faith to believe.
Don't think for a moment that God cannot do the same thing for you.
If you will come to Him, you too will be saved, regardless of your sins.
You will be changed and made ready for heaven!
Your future generation will be transformed as well because of Christ's redemption through His blood.
We will look at three things that made her faith in God distinct from her day.
RAHAB'S FAITH SAVED HER BECAUSE SHE...
1. ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE ON GOD'S PURPOSES.
Josh 2:9 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you."
The first thing we could learn about Rahab is that she was a woman who had the knowledge of God's plan for the Land.
She told the spies what she knows from all the accumulated information she gathered: "I know that the Lord has given you this land."
She knew about God's plan and purposes for Israel.
She knew that God will have total victory over the enemy nations.
She knew that this land will eventually become theirs.
It was straightforward statement from a person who is not a Jew herself.
And then, she talked about how her people has reacted to this truth: "a great fear of you has fallen on us."
That means there is a great alarm and horror among her people because of their presence in the land.
And how this fear is being received by all the others: "so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you."
"Melting in fear" - that means their self- confidence is being eroded.
Truly, this verse exposed that her heart and intention was on the side of Israel.
Her statements gave the spies great courage and determination as they enter a land that that they must conquer and defeat.
These spies were actually fearful to face their enemies, but now, the tide has turned in their favor.
They could not believe that it was their enemies who actually feared them most.
They have not yet done anything so far.
The news about their conquest and accomplishments traveled so fast.
How could Rahab, the harlot knew all these things information regarding the Jews?
It was probably from some of the travelers that Rahab sinned with that she came to learn these facts.
She heard about the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, the miracle of the Red Sea and the overthrow of Sihon and Og.
She took the information and kept it in her heart until the time comes when she will need them.
So, when these two spies from Joshua sought cover in her house, she knew that sooner or later, their town would be next.
Here were two men, different from other men who came seeking for favors.
These were men of God, not idolaters, bent on one mission, to claim the Land that God had promised them.
And so, this knowledge of God's plan nurtured her faith and eventually helped in her deliverance.
You see, whatever information that we have acquired about God and His purposes will be very helpful to grow our faith and save us from the corruption of this world.
But the Bible reveals our original condition in this world.
It says that we are spiritually blinded due to sin.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
We were blinded from the knowledge of the truth by the god of this world.
In ourselves, we cannot discern and accept the spiritual truth about Christ.
But God wants all people to be saved.
God wants us to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 (NIV) "who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
And so, it was God who opened our eyes to the truth of God's Word so that we will have faith.
It was the same God who opened the eyes of Rahab that changed her perspective in life.
My prayer is that God will open our eyes to the knowledge and understanding of the truth.
When we come to Christ, He will open our eyes regardless of our sinful condition and allow us to see the light of the spiritual truths.
This is what the scarlet cord of redemption is all about.
Christ's blood is able to save us completely.
How do you know that you have enough knowledge about God that can help your faith to grow?
How do you know that you have the faith that can save you?
This is one of the most important questions in the Christian life.
We have to be sure that we have the genuine faith in our lives.
Because many believers doubt their salvation when they don't see the signs of their faith.
That is why Paul urges the church in Corinth to "examine themselves whether they are in the faith."
2 Cor. 13:5 (NIV) "5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"
There is a series of tests in 1 John that we can use to examine ourselves and our faith.
As we look at them, remember that no one will perfectly fulfill all of them all the time, but they should reveal a consistent trend that characterizes our lives as we grow in grace.
1. Do you enjoy having fellowship with Christ and His redeemed people? (1 John 1:3)
2. Would people say you walk in the light, or walk in the darkness? (1 John 1:6-7)
3. Do you admit and confess your sin? (1 John 1:8)
4. Are you obedient to God's Word? (1 John 2:3-5)
5. Does your life indicate you love God rather than the world? (1 John 2:15)
6. Is your life characterized by "doing what is right"? (1 John 2:29)
7. Do you seek to maintain a pure life? (1 John 3:3)
8. Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life? (1 John 3:5-6) [Note: this refers to not continuing in sin as a way of life, not a total absence of sin.]
9. Do you demonstrate love for other Christians? (1 John 3:14)
10. Do you "walk the walk," versus just "talking the talk"? (1 John 3:18-19)
11. Do you maintain a clear conscience? (1 John 3:21)
12. Do you experience victory in your Christian walk? (1 John 5:4)
2. COURAGE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISION.
Joshua 2: 15-16 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
The second thing we can learn from the life of Rahab was that she had the courage to make tough decision.
She acted fast and let them down by the scarlet cord or a rope through the window.
It was a tough decision to hide the spies and help them to escape in the shadow of the night.
She put those who sought after them on a false trail until the spies could reach Joshua with their report.
Her courage was admirable and praiseworthy.
Her willingness to risk her own neck for the sake of these spies was commendable.
Surely, if those spies were discovered by the soldiers hiding in her house, she would have died in the hands of the king of Jericho.
It was treason to hide the spies that was a crime punishable by death.
At the same time, Rahab had a calm demeanor.
There was no slightest trace of inner agitation or hesitation.
She met the searchers and succeeded in setting them out in the wrong trail.
By her action, Rahab was actually betraying her own country and embracing the enemy.
But because of her knowledge about the truth, she looked at the faces of these spies and assured them that she was on their side.
She made a great sacrifice as if she was saying, "I will not betray you. Follow me!"
She had a daring faith.
She had the courage to make tough decision.
She was hanging on to the scarlet cord of redemption more than anything else.
No wonder, she was richly rewarded by the Lord.
Writing about this incident, the apostle James commented of Rahab.
James 2:25 (NIV) "25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?"
Rahab was considered righteous for what she did.
Her daring faith made her to embark on those tough decision even if this will endanger her life.
Indeed, she was practicing her faith.
Faith without works is dead.
Our transformed life is demonstrated by our good works.
Real saving faith is shown by good works.
Good works are not the cause of salvation, but good works are the evidence of salvation.
Therefore, the person who claims to be a Christian but lives in willful disobedience to Christ with a life that shows no works has a dead faith.
That is why Christ said that "By their fruits you will know them..." Matthew 7:16.
Fruits are important to Christ.
We are to bear fruit that is pleasing to God.
And what are these fruits that we are to bear?
According to Charles C. Ryrie as written in Bible.org, our Christian fruit includes the following:
1. A Christ-like character - Developing a Christian character that reflects His character in us. (Gal. 5:22-23).
2. A Life characterized by Good Works. Right character will result in right conduct. (Col. 1:10)
3. A Faithful Witness. Those who come to Christ through our witness are fruit. (Rom. 1:13)
4. A Pair of Lips that Praise God - Our lips will bear fruit when we offer thankful acknowledgment to God. (Heb. 13:15)
5. A Generous Giving of One's money. We bear fruit when we give money for those who are in need. (Rom. 15:28)
If we have Christ as the root, good works are the fruit that will follow.
Good works are always our love-offering as our gratitude to God's salvation.
They are the sweet-smelling aroma of a sacrificial love-offering to God.
When we do good works, we are a good witness to the unsaved.
Therefore, we are saved for a life of good works.
And that is what happened to Rahab.
She now had the courage to make tough decision in life because her faith has bore fruits.
In the same manner, we must examine the fruits that we have produced in Christ.
May our fruits last for all eternity.
3. DEEP CONCERN FOR THE SALVATION OF HER OWN FAMILY vs. 12-13
Joshua 2:12-13 12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
The third lesson we can learn from Rahab the harlot is that through her faith, she now had deep concern for the salvation of others.
With the shadow of death and destruction coming over Jericho, Rahab extracted a promise from the two spies.
She interceded for them to spare her and also those who are connected to her family.
Even if her life of sin and shame has brought her apart from her family, yet, her new faith in God has brought her closer to them.
She is now requesting for their protection and safety.
She desired that all her loved ones will be protected from the destruction at hand.
That is a manifestation of the good fruit that has developed in her heart because of her faith.
This good fruit overshadowed her former character of sin and shame.
There was a mighty change that took place in the heart of Rahab.
There was an inner transformation that changed her from a harlot to a worshiper of God.
When she received and hid those spies, her tribute to God's power and authority grew her faith even more.
She was then given such honor and holiness that can only come from a forgiving God.
The Christian therefore who desire with all his might to see others converted is the one who will have a truly satisfying Christian experience.
Just like Rahab, such person will transform his future generation from cursing to blessings.
Do we have the same passion as Rahab for the salvation of our friends and family?
When our time is gone, do we have our loved ones as the stars that will occupy our crown in heaven?
Let's go back to the story on the Ashley Madison scandal.
The Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham has told the 37 million members of this extramarital website that regardless of whether their private info is exposed to the public, but the truth is, God already knows what they have been up to.
"I have news for all those worried cheaters out there wringing their hands — God already knew! His holy Word says, 'Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account' (Hebrews 4:13). Times may have changed, but God's laws and standards never change — all sin has a price," Graham said in a message on Facebook on Wednesday.
But, he continued, "If you are living in fear because of your sins, I want you to know that your sins can be forgiven."
Many exposed users might be overwhelmed with sorrow and shame but 1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
In conclusion, God can heal the pain of guilt when sinners truly confess, ask forgiveness and seek God for their life.
God can give us a new life just like Rahab.
"His blood can make the vilest clean," and "His blood avails for me."
Rahab was worth saving from her evil life because of God's grace.
Even if other woman in Jericho saw now beauty in Rahab that they should desire her company, but through faith, she became one of God's heroes of faith.
Rahab's sins had been scarlet but the scarlet cord or redemption saved her.
This is what the blood of Christ can do to sinners like you and me.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for the grace and the power of a changed life that you have given to Rahab that allowed her to hung that scarlet cord from her window to save her and her entire family.
Such cord reminded us all that we are all sinners.
We have been separated from the glory of God because of our sins.
We want to repent from our sins so that we can be saved.
You have promised that even if our sins are as scarlet, we can be as white as snow.
Even if they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
We look to the blood of Jesus that was shed at Calvary's cross for the atonement of sin.
This is the final and ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Thank you for such great salvation not through the works of our hands but by the grace of God.'
It does not come through dead religion, but always through the shedding of blood.
We come to the cross of Christ and we are reminded for such great love for all sinners.
Such grace is still very much alive even now.
Such grace that can produce faith in us and prompt us to action.
Such grace that gives us the passion for the lost souls so that they can be saved.
Lord, we pray that we will have the faith to believe so that the same cord of redemption through the finished work of Jesus will be come a lasting source of salvation for generations to come.
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