How are you doing? I’m hanging by a thread. Have you ever heard that or said it. Most of us have. This statement is a Biblical reality. This woman’s family was targeted for judgment but she was saved and her household—all by a scarlet thread. It still dangles from heaven and if we’re behind the thread we’ll be all right.
Joshua 2: 15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. 16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. 17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. 18 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. 19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. 20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear. 21 And she said, according unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
Here is the miracle. A whole family was spared by a single scarlet thread in the window. Sometimes the techniques God uses don’t make sense. When God says do it this way we can trust him. How could a thread protect them? They may have thought it crazy. Many think people who trust the Bible are crazy. I know whom I have believed. That’s worth more than anything in this life. Our relationship with God is a scarlet thread far stronger than the heaviest of chains.
Rahab was a prostitute, the low of the low in the city of Jericho. She was considered of little value. Jericho was a formidable city, perhaps the oldest in the world. The foundations of the walls are still there. To know how God worked is amazing.
The people of Jericho heard about God’s people. They were at the Jordon River. Their God had parted the Red Sea to escape Egypt. God had given them victory over many desert tribes. Jericho was afraid. They knew wherever Israel went they got victory. No matter what walls are up in your life, God will see you through. Believe him. Trust him before anyone else. Whatever God tells you to do, do it and keep hold of the scarlet thread.
Jericho was a mighty city known by all around. It was fortified and offered a sense of security in its walls. They thought no one would stop them. We all have burdens, cares and problems. We feel intimidated by the devil and the world. Life itself can be intimidating. Many things work up a wall to hedge us in. Jericho felt safe until it came to Israel. They knew someone was working for them. We may have many enemies that we can’t overcome. If walls come up, march around them and shout. God will take care of walls if we’ll stand for him.
Jericho’s security was false. A messenger came to Joshua, the Captain of the Lord’s Host, and he promised to be with Israel against the mighty Jericho. Our Captain is Jesus and all we have to do is keep marching on, shout the name of Jesus, and wait for God. He made an end to Canaan making it Israel’s Promised Land. There is a new city coming for us, and God will knock our walls down too. The only securities we have are the promises of God and the scarlet thread. God could have had a sword put in the window for protection but the token was the scarlet thread. Nobody would have paid attention to the little cord in the window. God can take a little and make a lot happen. Two fish and five pieces of bread in the hands of the Lord fed thousands. Everybody got plenty. God comes through. He ordained salvation through the scarlet thread of the blood of the cross. God’s gift was his Son. He gave all to us. Jesus went to the cross for us and was nailed there. Jesus said that if he was lifted up he would draw all men unto him. The two spies told Rahab to lift the thread in the window and stay in the house when Israel came against Jericho. They would see it and everybody in the house would be spared. Those who knew what it meant probably laughed and made fun of her, but Rahab didn’t stop trusting the Lord of Israel.
God told Joshua to take Rahab and her family in. They stayed behind the thread hanging in the window. That’s what we have to do. Hang up the thread and hang in there. Believe in the cross more than we ever have. Don’t be shaken. If God can save Rahab, he can save us. The scarlet thread is strong enough to hold us. Stay behind it. No matter what happens around us, hang on. The walls of this old world system are getting ready to fall. I’m glad to know where the scarlet thread is. God still surrounds everything.
When the trumpet sounded, the people shouted and the walls fell flat. They saw the thread in the window; they were under orders to do no harm to those in the house. Rahab is mentioned in Hebrews 11:31 in the wall of faith. It says by faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Her sins were forgiven. She was made part of Israel. One of her descendants was King David. One thousand years later her distant descendant would be Mary, the mother of the Son of God, the Son of David.
How did that happen? The scarlet thread of the old rugged cross. Cling to it. Stay behind it. Trust the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 