"...for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."
(Joshua 2:11)
RAHAB AND THE SCARLET CORD OF SALVATION
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It was Joshua's responsibility to expel the inhabitants of Canaan from the
land before the people of Israel could settle there. The Canaanites practiced
gross immorality,"sacred" prostitution, associated with the Baal fertility cult.
land before the people of Israel could settle there. The Canaanites practiced
gross immorality,"sacred" prostitution, associated with the Baal fertility cult.
They also sacrificed their infants to Molech, a Canaanite god.
Rahab, as an Amorite, was a harlot and part of this evil system. When the
two spies from Joshua's camp found themselves pursued by the Amorites,
she hid them in her house. Rahab had not only heard of and believed in the
powerful God of Israel who had dried up the waters of the Red Sea when
He led His chosen people out of Egypt, but informed the two men:
" I know that the Lord hath given you the land and that your terror is
fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you."
(Joshua 2:9)
(Joshua 2:9)
Jericho was the worst of the Amorite cities and God had commanded Joshua
to destroy both the city and those who dwelled in it. Before helping the spies
escape, Rahab was told to hang a scarlet cord from her window.
In doing so her entire family was spared from death.
to destroy both the city and those who dwelled in it. Before helping the spies
escape, Rahab was told to hang a scarlet cord from her window.
In doing so her entire family was spared from death.
The two spies told Rahab, "Behold, when we enter the land, you must tie this
scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down and you must bring
your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household into your
home. If anyone goes out the door of your house, his blood will be on his own
head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you
in the house, his blood will be on our heads. And if you report our mission,
we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down and you must bring
your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household into your
home. If anyone goes out the door of your house, his blood will be on his own
head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you
in the house, his blood will be on our heads. And if you report our mission,
we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
"Let it be as you say," she replied and she sent them away.
And when they had gone, Rahab tied the scarlet cord in the window."
(Joshua 2:18-21)
And when they had gone, Rahab tied the scarlet cord in the window."
(Joshua 2:18-21)
The cord which Rahab tied in the window of her home is symbolic
of redemption and salvation. The color scarlet is associated with
of redemption and salvation. The color scarlet is associated with
the atonement made with God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
As the story of Passover prefigures Christ with the blood of a lamb
smeared on the door and lintels of the homes of the Hebrew slaves
in Egypt to save them from death, Rahab's scarlet cord represents
the sinner's purification through faith in the precious
shed blood of the Lamb of God.
As the story of Passover prefigures Christ with the blood of a lamb
smeared on the door and lintels of the homes of the Hebrew slaves
in Egypt to save them from death, Rahab's scarlet cord represents
the sinner's purification through faith in the precious
shed blood of the Lamb of God.
"By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies
in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient."
(Hebrews 11:31)
in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient."
(Hebrews 11:31)
Through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, even the vilest sinner is made clean.
As a woman who lived surrounded by a wicked culture, Rahab had placed
her trust and hope in the One True God and her faith was rewarded.
She later married Salmon, whom some biblical scholars believe
had been one of the spies she had hidden in her home.
her trust and hope in the One True God and her faith was rewarded.
She later married Salmon, whom some biblical scholars believe
had been one of the spies she had hidden in her home.
Rahab became the mother of Boaz. A kinsman of Naomi, he would marry her
faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth, a woman of Moab, who bore him a son named Obed.
Their son, was the father of Jesse, who in turn, became the father of David.
faithful daughter-in-law, Ruth, a woman of Moab, who bore him a son named Obed.
Their son, was the father of Jesse, who in turn, became the father of David.
It was through this ancestral line that the Messiah was born.
Reference Material : Salem Kirban Reference Bible/Bible Hub.com
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