08 AUGUST

THE SCARLET CORD (2)

“The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household.”(Joshua 2:17–18)

Rahab heard, believed, took positive action and obeyed completely. By faith, she made a request for exactly what she wanted – to be saved. She stayed in her house – under the designated covering.  She didn’t know when the spies would return but from the day they left, she released a visible sign of her strong unwavering faith – the red cord – making herself and relatives ready to be saved.

The seemingly ordinary red cord was transformed into a strong sign of a new covenant and remembrance. Rahab and her household were saved. She gave up the tainted former life, married an Israelite, lived in faith like them and became the great grandmother of King David and one of the five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.

We have a lot to learn from Rahab. Once we have experienced God’s saving power, through repentance and faith, using our red cord – the blood of Jesus – we must keep our own side of the covenant. We need to take positive actions to fulfil God’s plan and make our requests in prayers specific and in faith. We do not know when Christ will return but we must patiently remain under the canopy of righteousness, living in complete obedience to God and striving to bring in our relatives and friends. We must turn away from our former disobedience completely.

ACTION: Read Joshua 2 and 6, and write out lessons you want to imbibe from the story of Rahab.

PRAYER: Lord, light up the fire of faith in me, and quicken me to back up my faith with necessary actions.