THE SCARLET ROPE
Rahab, the Jericho harlot, hid the Israelite spies whom Joshua had sent to reconnoiter the city. After making an amazing confession of faith in the Lord, she made a deal with the spies that she would hide them in return for protecting her family when the Lord gave the city over to Israel. The spies agreed. They told her to leave a “scarlet rope hanging in the window” of her house to identify it and to keep everyone inside the house, otherwise they would not be responsible for them.
The scarlet rope reminds me of the blood of the lamb that was applied to the doors of the Israelites’ homes in Egypt, so that the angel of death would “pass over” them. It also reminds me of the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, which must be applied by faith for salvation.
Rahab’s family was spared when Israel destroyed Jericho. Those inside the house with the scarlet rope were saved. Rahab and her family became part of God’s people. So that, even Rahab the harlot became one of the mothers listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Christ Jesus (Matt. 1:5).
The scarlet rope also reminds me of the Lord’s invitation to cleanse His people of their sins: “Come now, let’s settle this. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool” (Isa. 1:18).
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that Christ has become our Passover Lamb and His blood has been applied to all who believe. We gladly display what Christ has done for us in our lives, so that the whole world may know. In Jesus’ name, amen.