The Blood of Jesus -- The Only Means of Salvation
Now the men had said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.
If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
"Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:17-21
If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
"Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:17-21
Typically, my children and I read this Daily Devotional in the car on our way to school. The children take turns to read on alternate days and then we each give "our take" on what we get out of it. On Fridays, they have negotiated to take a break from "car reading" so their time is their own. It's been a pretty good deal!
On Saturdays, we read the devotional or read directly from the Scriptures and reflect audibly over the reading as a family. This past Saturday, the devotional was Joshua 2:17-21.
As we reflected on the passage, I was struck by the points of application that were made. I immediately said to my family that I would revisit this passage tomorrow. The comment that gripped me was: "If Rahab had not hung the scarlet cord in her window, she would not have been saved from destruction." My wife reminded us that the scarlet cord was the crucial link!
That is a straight and very pointed application. The spies had specifically told Rahab: "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down . . . "
If there was no scarlet cord, there would be no salvation from destruction for Rahab and her family.
This is also a reminder of the Passover event during the redemption from Egypt, "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." (Exodus 12:13).
The Passover blood was the precursor of the Holy Blood of Jesus on the Cross. It was the scarlet cord in Rahab's window. The Blood of Jesus is the only means of salvation from eternal destruction. Let's be passionate and bring whole families under the Blood, just like Rahab did.
On Saturdays, we read the devotional or read directly from the Scriptures and reflect audibly over the reading as a family. This past Saturday, the devotional was Joshua 2:17-21.
As we reflected on the passage, I was struck by the points of application that were made. I immediately said to my family that I would revisit this passage tomorrow. The comment that gripped me was: "If Rahab had not hung the scarlet cord in her window, she would not have been saved from destruction." My wife reminded us that the scarlet cord was the crucial link!
That is a straight and very pointed application. The spies had specifically told Rahab: "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down . . . "
If there was no scarlet cord, there would be no salvation from destruction for Rahab and her family.
This is also a reminder of the Passover event during the redemption from Egypt, "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." (Exodus 12:13).
The Passover blood was the precursor of the Holy Blood of Jesus on the Cross. It was the scarlet cord in Rahab's window. The Blood of Jesus is the only means of salvation from eternal destruction. Let's be passionate and bring whole families under the Blood, just like Rahab did.
Prayer: Father, there is no other means of salvation other than the Blood of Jesus. Please help me to be passionate about sharing Jesus with others. Amen.