But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho (Joshua 6:25).
After the death of Moses, God appoints Joshua to lead the people into the land he promised them. He sends two spies to scope out the walled city of Jericho. They meet Rahab, who has heard how their God delivered them out of Egypt and believes that the God of Israel is the one true God. She misleads the king’s men and lowers the spies through a window using a scarlet cord to help them escape. They promise her that if she ties the cord in the window, she and her household will be spared when they take the city. The spies were specific that it had to be that one cord. It’s unknown how much time passes between Rahab’s first encounter with the spies and and the fall of Jericho, but she follows their instructions.
God promises Joshua victory over Jericho but gives rather strange instructions to bring it about. The army marches around the city for six days. On the seventh day, they march seven times, then with trumpets blowing and a loud shout, the walls of Jericho fall flat. I can only imagine what Rahab’s household must have been like in the waiting. She’s convinced her family to hunker down with her, trusting the God of Israel to spare them. She didn’t know when or how, but in faith she waited and they were rescued.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
Rahab trusts that a single scarlet cord hanging in a window would ensure their safety. Tying a cord to a window seems like such a small thing. It’s not even a hard thing, but it is a required thing. Our scarlet cord is the blood of Jesus and faith in him is the only way we are saved.
God of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, and so many others who have gone before us, you are the one true God. Search our hearts and reveal areas where our faith is misplaced. Help us to put our complete trust in you alone.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13).
