Scarlet Cord

So the men said to her: “We will be blameless[d] of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. Joshua 2:17-18

Rahab was a women of faith. Rahab saved the spies by hiding them and later letting them escape through the window using a rope. The spies mentioned to Rahab that her family will be saved, if she tied the scarlet cord (rope) to the window. The scarlet cord that saved the spies should be tied to the window to save her family. For the spies and Israelites, out of all Jericho, the house that has the scarlet cord tied to the window will be saved. The scarlet cord is an indicator that the house belongs to Rahab.

And she bound the scarlet cord in the window as soon as the spies left (Joshua 2:21). The scarlet cord which she used to save the spies was a remainder for God to save Rahab. The sacrifices that we make in God's will, will be the scarlet cord’s that reminds God to save us when we are in trouble. Rahab put her life in danger to save the spies. In the past few years, you might have made some sacrifices to carry out God’s plan. God is a faithful rewarder. The sacrifices you made reminds God to save you in your time of need and difficulties.

Rahab tied the scars as soon as the spies left. Rahab’s faith was displayed by the tying of the scarlet cord as soon as the spies left. She tied the cord as if God would destroy Jericho immediately right after the spies left. She tied the cord without seeing Israel's army or troops. Faith sees God's promises as fulfilled before they are even started. Rahab's faith was that God will surely destroy Jericho before even seeing the Israelite army. Rahab’s faith also had a timeline which is immediately. So she tied the cord as soon as the spies left. She had more faith and trust in God of Israel than the spies.

The spies came to search Jericho, but Rahab's faith was that God had already destroyed Jericho. Rahab demonstrated greater faith (by only hearing about God’s wonders without seeing any wonders) than Israelites who actually saw the miracles.

If Rahab had been sent as a spy instead of the ten spies who bought a negative report, Israel would have already entered the Promised Land. After witnessing so many miracles, Israelites did not show as much faith that Rahab had. The words she spoke and the sacrifices she made reflect a person who strongly believed in God. Without knowing the God of Israel how could she risk her life to save the spies? Surely she had a strong faith in the God of Israel. Rahab's words in Joshua 2:9-11, "for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath," display the strong faith in the God of Israel. Rahab's words of belief about the God of Israel would have shocked the two spies. Rahab spoke such lofty and noble words about God of Israel that the Israelites could not even talk after witnessing so many miracles.

A person who has never experienced or tasted God's blessings and miracles has kept a great deal of trust and faith in God only by hearing about God's wonders. So many times, we who have seen miracles (like Israelites) have kept less faith than Rahab and our words don’t reflect greatness and majesty of God. Rahab developed faith by hearing about God’s wonders. Rahab, while living in a place of sin and having a sinful profession, had a strong faith in God. The faith in God of Israel has saved her and brought her out from her sinful profession.

The cord was tied as soon as the spies left and before even the Israeli army arrived in the vicinity of Jericho. The cord would have been tied to the window for at least 20 days. However, the cord was tied until Israel destroyed Jericho. The scarlet cord is already tied to the window. The scarlet cord represents the sacrifice and blood of Jesus, which is applied to our life until we enter heaven or eternity. Just as the scarlet cord reminded God to save Rahab, Jesus' sacrifice reminds God to save us. Jesus' sacrifice and blood are always applied to and tied to our life until we meet God in heaven or eternity. The cross of Jesus is the two fold cord that ties us with God. Without the Cross, we see the wrath of God. By placing us beneath the Cross of Jesus, we are safeguarded from God's anger and destructions that are coming on this land.