The Women and the Rope
If you know that someone is your enemy, would you help them? No? Yet, the bible tells us we have to. Paul taught us that “…if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20, KJV). He was underpinning Solomon’s wisdom from Proverbs 25:22.
However, today’s woman of honour was facing a dilemma. The enemy was there to destroy her and her people. Joshua sent two men to spy on the city of Jericho. There they met Rahab, described as a harlot or prostitute, who gave refuge to the two spies. She hid them between stalks of flax on her roof. The king of Jericho discovered the two spies and sent his men to gather them from her house. However, Rahab causes a diversion for them by telling the king’s men that “…there came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: and it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them” (Joshua 2:4-5, KJV).
Somewhere she heard tell of the God of Israel. She told the spies, “ 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. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites….” (Joshua 2:9-10, KJV). She made the men swear that no harm would come to her or her household for the kindness she had shown them as she helped them escape the city, letting them down a red cord through a window.
Rahab’s house was built inside the wall of Jericho. The same wall of Jericho would be destroyed later by blowing horns and shouting. The only part remaining was her home. The home from which a scarlet cord hung from the window. It must have been a fearful time for her and her family to trust the enemy not to harm them. They had to trust the spies’ words so everyone inside her house would be saved. We are here reminded of God’s promise to the Israelites in Exodus 12, where they had to sacrifice a lamb and smear the blood on the side post and lintel of the doors of every home to protect them from the destroyer who came to slay the first-born’s of the land. But whoever had the blood on the post of their home where saved.
Not only has she been saved, but she was also one of the ancestors of David and later our Messiah. Please see Matthew 1 for the ancestry of Jesus. The scarlet rope signifies so many things. It represents her own sinfulness. Rahab means blusterer (troublemaker), prideful, arrogant, or mystical sea monster causing problems to Israel. But she knew that she needed saving, just like all of us. Jesus came to save us all through the cross and His blood (scarlet) that was spilt for us. Therefore, saving us through an invisible rope (faith). We need to have trust and faith that the blood of Jesus will wash away our sins and save us from our own arrogance and pride.
James said, “ye see then how that by works a man justified, and not by faith only. Likewise, also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:24-26, KJV). Rahab showed kindness to the two spies, which eventually saved her life and her family.
When you feel you are losing faith in trust in God, remember Rahab and hang in there. Remember, the price was already paid for on the cross. God loves each of us and has a purpose for every life.
#GodCanDoThis
Lightbearer's Quest 