The Scarlet Thread
Today’s Verse:
Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. ~Joshua 2:18
Several years ago, a new law was passed with the intention of protecting the confidential information of medical patients. This law was known as HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act. It holds all medical providers to a very high level of accountability with regards to the protection of all health information of a medical patient. In this law, it indicates “identity identifiers” that are unique to the patient such as his name, date of birth, and social security number. This morning, we see an important identifier that testified of the faith of Rahab. It was referred to as the scarlet thread or rope.
The scarlet rope identified her with her CONVERSION.
Rahab believed in God for her salvation. She confessed that she was a sinner and under judgment. She confessed that the Lord God was God in heaven above and earth beneath. She converted from paganism to a true and living faith in the Lord. The scarlet color of the rope pictures the shed blood of Christ. When she placed that rope outside the window of her home, she testified of her faith and trust in the shed blood of our sinless Lord for her sins.
The scarlet rope identified her with her CONNECTION.
The word for “rope” also refers to a band of people that is tightly knit together. A rope is composed of tightly woven cords. She identified herself with the people of God when she believed on the Lord. The identifier that the spies looked for when they returned to take her out of Jericho was the scarlet rope that hung outside her window. That rope signaled she was one of them! When a person gets saved, he becomes a part of God’s wonderful family. The blood of Christ makes all believers one in Him. The rope openly testified of her connection to the people of God.
The scarlet rope identified her with her COMMITMENT.
When she let down the rope for the spies to exit her home, she showed her commitment to them and her faith in the Lord. The letting down of that rope told them she was committed to them and the cause they represented. She renounced her former life, and showed that she embraced completely her faith in the Lord. When she let them down that rope, she knew she was at risk of being charged with and killed for treason against her city and former belief. Commitment will always have some risks. Rahab was courageously committed to the Lord.
Fourth, the scarlet rope identified her for her CONSERVATION.
Heb. 11:31 tells us that Rahab perished not with the rest of Jericho because of her faith in the Lord. When Joshua and the spies returned to Jericho, they looked for the one house where the scarlet rope hung from the window down to the bottom floor. The rope guaranteed her preservation from judgment. She and her family escaped judgment. She perished not with them that believed not.
Let us remember that there is an invisible scarlet rope that stretches from heaven above to earth beneath for every believer. It testifies of a victorious faith in Christ—a faith that is converted, connected, committed, and conserved. Live for Jesus! Don’t be ashamed of His gospel! Don’t regress and go into hiding!
Have a satisfying God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Judges 8-9
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