"THE SCARLET CORD"
TEXT: JOSHUA 2; 6:22-25a
INTRODUCTION
They had been together now for nearly 7 days, not knowing what to expect or when to expect it. The fear and anticipation of what was about to happen, was almost unbearable and they all were getting a little irritated with each other, 3 generations in one room for that many days tends to get that way. And there was no ninetendo to keep the children busy.
Some, were even wondering, if what they were doing made any sense, but yet they were too afraid not to do it.
Then it began, first there was a loud trumpet blast, and then the sound of thousands shouting. And suddenly, they could feel what seemed like an earthquake, as all around them, the walls/the ground shook with terrifying intensity. Quickly they moved to a corner of the room and huddled together; too afraid to move, to afraid to speak and too afraid to look outside to see what was actually happening.
Once the violent shaking stopped, they heard the sound of thousands of soldiers advancing on the city; followed by wails of agony and cries of pain.
And then it was over, and it was quite, and among the rubble of what once was the fortified city of Jericho, stood a home built into the side of the wall, still standing, untouched by the destruction.
And hanging from it’s window swaying in the breeze, was a scarlet cord.
Today is Easter, and as we study Joshua we will see, that not only was there a scarlet cord in Jericho that brought deliverance form destruction, but that there was a scarlet cord in Jerusalem that has brought deliverance to all the world.
As we study God’s Word this morning we will see that there are several similarities between the scarlet cords in Jericho and in Jerusalem.
THE SCARLET CORD IN JERICHO
THE SCARLET CORD WAS NEEDED BECAUSE DESTRUCTION WAS COMING. [2:2-13]
The people who lived in Canaan, the people who lived in Jericho were God’s enemies. The were ungodly people who sacrificed their own children to their god Molech, as they participated in wild orgies, they tried to contacted the dead, practiced witchcraft and did many other detestable things in the eyes of God. They were an evil and ungodly people. And God’s judgment was about to come upon them through the hands of His people, the Israelites.
So there God’s enemies were, walled up within the city of Jericho, and they knew that trouble was just over the horizon. They had heard about this people, the Israelites, were delivered out of Egypt, by the Mighty hand of their God. And the account of God parting the waters of the Red Sea, was well known within the Land. As was the reports of how this people had completely defeated and destroyed the mighty armies of Og and Sihon taking possession of their lands.
And now this people who seemed so powerful, so indestructible was heading their way. The Israelites were only a river away from entering their land.
Those in Jericho knew, that at any moment trouble would come, so they had lookouts waiting and watching for any sign of the Israelites.
Those in Jericho were on the lookout and they were afraid.
And God’s people did come and they did cross the Jordan. And God had a plan to bring about the destruction of His enemies. And that plan was to have 7 priests march in front of the ark with trumpets, followed by the armed men. And they were to march around the city 1 time a day for 6 days, and the people were to be silent. And on the 7th day they were to march around 7 times and on the 7th time the priest were to give a loud trumpet blast and the people were to shout. That was God’s plan to take the city of Jericho.
I am sure that when the Israelites approached the city and did as God commanded, by the second day the people on the walls must have thought that the Israelites looked pretty silly. Perhaps comments such as the following were made, "And we were afraid of these guys, these Israelites are crazy, they must have completely lost their minds, walking around in circles like children playing a game." And perhaps they laughed, mocked and ridiculed God’s people from high a top their walled fortification.
Regardless of what God’s enemies thought, God’s plan would work flawlessly. The laughter would stop, the ridicule would cease and the walls would come down and God’s enemies would be destroyed.
THE SCARLET CORD WAS NEEDED BECAUSE A DESTRUCTION WAS COMING!
AND THE SCARLET CORD MEANT THAT A DELIVERANCE WAS AVAILABLE
[17-21]
To who was this deliverance made available?
THAT’S RIGHT, To Rahab
And why was this deliverance from destruction made available Rahab?
The primary reason, was because of her faith in God. The New Testament in James chapter 2 and in Hebrews chapter 11 uses Rahab as an example of someone who had true faith. Her faith was true, because she acted in obedience on her faith. And this obedient faith, is the only kind of faith the Word of God ever recognizes.
So how do we know that Rahab had faith in God, well obviously we know, because the New Testament said that she did. But we also know that she had faith because of 2 things in chapter 2 of Joshua.
a) Listen to her statement of faith in Joshua 2:11, "When we heard of it , our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed, because of you, for the Lord your God, is God in heaven above and on earth below." Rahab heard of God ,and had faith, the others in Jericho heard of God and only had fear.
b) and the 2nd thing that tells us she had faith, is that she acted on her faith. Rahab hid the spies and did what they said.
What were the conditions of her deliverance?
There were three conditions stated in the text that had to met for her to receive deliverance from the coming destruction, and they were:
a) tie a scarlet cord from her window
b) bring her mother and father, brothers and sisters and all her family into her house.
c) not tell anyone what the Israelites were doing
THE SCARLET CORD WAS NEEDED BECAUSE A DESTRUCTION WAS COMING
THE SCARLET CORD MEANT THAT A DELIVERANCE WAS AVAILABLE
THE SCARLET CORD DEMANDED THAT A DECISION BE MADE
After Rahab let the men down the rope, she had a decision to make. She knew what the conditions were and the decision she had to make was, "am I going to met these conditions or am I going to ignore them."
As some one pointed out during our Mid-Week study when you read verse 21, you get a good indication that for Rahab the decision was already made, let’s look at that verse again,
When hearing of the conditions for her deliverance form destruction Rahab replied, "AGREED, LET IT BE AS YOU SAY. SO SHE SENT THEM AWAY AND THEY DEPARTED. AND SHE TIED THE SCARLET CORD IN THE WINDOW."
It appears she wasted no time in tying the cord, no sooner were the Israelites went out the window , then she tied the scarlet cord.
Rahab knew what was required, and she saw no reason to hesitate.
Rahab knew that it was either out or in. If she did not do what they said and was not in the house she would face the same destruction as the city of Jericho , but if she did what they said and stayed in her house, she would be spared.
The scarlet thread demanded that Rahab make a decision and she made the right one and she and her family were spared. And Rahab lived with the Israelites after their victory in Jericho, she later became the mother of Ruth’s husband Boaz and Rahab is mentioned in the family tree of Jesus in Matthew. What a deliverance she experienced from destruction.
NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THE SCARLET CORD IN JERUSALEM
THE SCARLET CORD IS NEEDED BECAUSE A DESTRUCTION IS COMING
2000 years ago a scarlet cord was hung in Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, God the Son. And to the enemies of God that scarlet Cord meant a destruction was coming, theirs!
Ever since the garden, God’s chief enemy, Satan has been on the lookout. In Genesis 3:16 God tells Satan that his victory in the garden would only be short lived, because God was sending to mankind a Savior, who would crush Satan’s head, and deal him the fatal blow of death.
So when the Savior was born he was watching, and he tried to kill him, but he was unsuccessful. Later he tried to get Jesus to accept his bribe and join forces with him, satan was sure that this plan would work, but as we know it did not.
Satan was on the lookout and he was afraid, he had much to lose, and only DESTRUCTION IN the burning pits of hell, as his future if he was not successful, And Satan did not give up.
There were men who would help Satan, man who should have been Jesus’s best allies, they were priests, Pharisees and other religious leaders. But these men, were are also afraid of this Jesus. To them the scarlet cord/to them Jesus, meant a destruction was coming, their destruction. You see Jesus was a threat to them, he was a threat to their way of life, to their power, to their position, to their vain glory and self-righteousness. And this Jesus had to be stopped!!
So God’s enemies (earthly and spiritual) weaved what they thought, was their diabolical plan, a plan to destroy Jesus, and rid their worlds of this nuisance once and for all.
It was dark, it was quite, Jesus was with the eleven praying in the garden and Jesus was praying with such fervor that it was as though he was sweating drops of blood.
And as He had done many times before Jesus focused and prayed not for his own needs but for the needs of others. He could see the troubles and hardships his followers would face and he knew that their faith would be severely tested. He prayed for the eleven, and he prayed for all of His followers throughout the years, Jesus even prayed for us on the night before he died.
And suddenly, there were torches, soldiers, clubs, weapons and the kiss of betrayal. And Jesus was taken away tied and bound.
In the hours that followed Jesus stood before the Jewish leaders and he stood before the Roman leaders. He was beaten, he was spit upon, he was insulted, he had his back reduced to a bloody rubble of torn flesh and his disciples deserted HIm.
Weak, tired and bleeding He was forced to carry his own cross up the hill to the place called Golgotha.
There to have 7 inch spikes hammer into his wrists and into his feet. And for, 6 hours on that Friday, he hung on that cross,. suspended between heaven and hell. And for those 6 hours every time he took a breathe, he to push up on his nailed feet, and he had to pull up on his nailed wrist, and he had to scraped his torn back against the rough wood of the cross, as the flies and bugs nested in his wounds.
His enemies, God’s enemies, looked upon this scene with intense enjoyment. Their great threat, they thought, was removed. And as Jesus hung there they couldn’t resist the temptation for one final insult, just one for more time they let that young upstart from Nazareth know who was in charge. "hey Jesus, hey king of the Jews, if you are who you say you are let’s see you come down from the cross, surely that is not too difficult of a feat for the Son of God, come on Jesus let’s see you do it, some king he is, How pathetic, and to think we once feared this man."
And Jesus was all alone, he bore on the cross that day the sins of the world -- yours/mine. And as he breathed, pushing up on that spike in his feet, pulling up on those spikes in His wrists for the last time, Jesus cried out that it was finished, and he gave up his spirit and God turned his back on the son that he loved, who now bore our sin.
And God’s enemies (earthy and spiritual). thought they’d won, What a weak and pitiful man God had chosen, what a foolish plan God had, this Jesus couldn’t even save himself let alone save all of the world. And there was rejoicing in the Jewish Kingdom and the Worldly kingdom as they celebrated their victory.
But that was friday, and sunday was coming!!
The tomb, was and is still, empty!!
Christ arose, he is alive, he is alive!!
Jesus with great power burst forth from the grave breaking the cords of death that bound Him, destroying deaths power forever. The grave and death could not hold Jesus, it was impossible beCAUSE jesus is God, and he is live itself.
The war that had been raging for centuries was now over. The battle was long and hard, but when the final bell rang, Jesus was the one standing.
But a destruction is still coming, Jesus will come again and he will come as King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s. No won will hurt Him no one will dare mock Him as He returns in Glory, but rather every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is lord, He is Lord, he is risen from the dead and he is Lord, every knee shall bow every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Many do not believe that he will come again, and many today, still think that God’s plan is foolish. Paul said in I Corinthians 1:18, "for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing..." And that is true, for those who are perishing, to those who reject christ it doesn’t seem to make sense. Their pride, their self sufficiency and their ego often blind them to the simple truth of the Gospel. Ted Turner (of cable TV and Atlanta Braves fame) said, "CHRISTIANITY, IS A RELIGION OF LOSERS. I, DON’T NEED ANYONE, TO DIE FOR ME."
WHETHER TED TURNER OR ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO ADMIT IT OR NOT, THEY DO NEED SOME ONE TO DIE FOR DIE THEM , THEY DO NEED A SCARLET CORD, BECAUSE A DESTRUCTION IS COMING, THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL IN FACT COME. [II Peter 3:3-15a]
When the day of the Lord comes, when Jesus returns, God’s enemies will be destroyed. They are those, who live high a top their fortified cites, those who reject God, those who mock God, they are those who have built walls that they believe will protect them, as they live in the city of sin.
But the trumpet will sound and our Lord will return and the walls will come down, and the enemies of God living in the city of sin and rebellion, will be destroyed.
THE SCARLET CORD IN JERUSALEM WAS AND IS NEEDED, BECAUSE A DESTRUCTION IS COMING.
AND THE SCARLET CORD IN JERUSALEM MEANS THAT A DELIVERANCE IS AVAILABLE.
Just as in the case of Rahab, there is a way to escape the coming destruction.
TO WHO IS THIS DELIVERANCE MADE AVAILABLE?
To answer this, et’s quote together what is probably the best known and most memorized passage of scripture. "FOR GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."
Who is this deliverance made available to? To whoever, to anyone, to everyone. No one has to die spiritually, everyone can be saved.
John goes on to say that the reason Jesus (our scarlet cord) came into the world, was not to bring destruction, the destruction was already coming. He came so that we could be saved.
WHY IS THIS DELIVERANCE MADE AVAILABLE?
Because God so loved the world, becasue he so love you and he so loved me. That’s why he sent Jesus, that’s why Jesus died.
AND WHAT ARE THE Conditions TO RECEIVE THIS FORGIVENESS.
If Rahab would said to herself, "you know I think this scarlet cord would look much better hanging form my ceiling, and that is where I am going to hang it". If she did this do you think she would have been spared? No she would not.
God, not us sets the conditions for deliverance. And what are they?
In John chapter 3 Jesus said that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God.
Well, how are we born again, well to be born again we must die. And we must die to what it is, that is causing our death, and that is sin, we must die to sin. Sin is killing us.
How do we die to sin?
Believe in Jesus, that he is God the Son.
Recognize our sinfulness and repent of our sins.
And We must be willing to confess and make Him Lord of our life.
When we have done all this, we are ready to die.
Paul in Romans tells where and when this death takes place. Romans 6:3-7.
It is in our baptism God’s Word says, that we take part in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This is the only place God’s word says that we have our sins washed away. We are not to hang the scarlet cord on the ceiling, we are to do it God’s way. God’s is the only way, that will bring deliverance.
And what a beautiful time baptism is, it is a living picture of the Gospel.
TO WHO? EVERYONE
WHY? BECAUSE GOD LOVES US
UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS? GOD’S
THE SCARLET CORD IN JERUSALEM IS NEEDED BECAUSE A DESTRUCTION IS COMING. THE SCARLET CORD MEANS THAT A DELIVERANCE IS AVAILABLE.
AND EVEN NOW A DECISION IS BEING MADE.
Are we in or are we out, are we in Christ or outside of Christ, have we meet God’s conditions or have we ignored them.
I and many others here, have met God’s conditions and we have died to sin, and we do not fear the coming destruction, because we are safe in the arms of Jesus.
CONCLUSION
IN THE YEAR 1829, A PHILADELPHIA MAN NAMED GEORGE WILSON ROBBED THE US MAIL, KILLING SOMEONE IN THE PROCESS. WILSON WAS BROUGHT TO TRIAL, FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO BE HANGED. SOME FRIENDS INTERVENED IN HIS BEHALF AND WERE FINALLY ABLE TO OBTAIN A PARDON FOR HIM FROM PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON, BUT, WHEN HE WAS INFORMED OF THIS GEORGE WILSON REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE PARDON!
THE SHERIFF WAS UNWILLING TO ENACT THE SENTENCE--FOR HOW COULD HE HANG A PARDONED MAN? AND APPEAL WAS SENT TO PRESIDENT JACKSON. THE PERPLEXED PRESIDENT TURNED TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE THE CASE. CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL RULED THAT A PARDON IS A PIECE OF PAPER, THE VALUE OF WHICH DEPENDS ON ITS ACCEPTANCE BY THE PERSON IMPLICATED. IT IS HARDLY TO BE SUPPOSED THAT A PERSON UNDER THE SENTENCE OF DEATH WOULD REFUSE TO ACCEPT A PARDON, BUT IS REFUSED, IT IS THEN NOT A PARDON. GEORGE WILSON MUST BE HANGED. SO GEORGE WILSON WAS EXECUTED, ALTHOUGH HIS PARDON LAY ON THE SHERIFF’S DESK.
SO, TOO DO SOME, REJECT THE GIFT OF SALVATION, BY REFUSING THE PARDON THAT HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE. TO BE SENTENCED TO SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL WHILE OUR PARDON SITS IN THE HANDS OF GOD, IS INDEED TRAGIC.
