THE SCARLET CORD
Today’s Reading: Joshua 2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
St. Stephen’s Gate is located in the northeast walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, leading to the Via Dolorosa. It is so named because of the tradition that the first follower of Jesus to be killed for his faith, Stephen, was stoned outside this gate. Like the walls of Jericho, the thickness of the walls are such that people’s homes were often located right inside or on top of them, as was the home of Rahab in Jericho.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Joshua 2:21
Then she [Rahab] said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
Scarlet wool is mentioned in Hebrews 9:19 (read Hebrews 9:19-22). Rahab’s scarlet cord is mentioned twice in our reading, and it pictures safety through the blood of a sacrificial lamb. Rahab’s name is found in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). This Gentile woman becomes the mother of Boaz, who is the great-grandfather of King David. God’s long-term plans are amazing.
Rahab’s house was, according to verse 15, “on the wall.” This explains how the men escaped through the window, and how, as the Israelites marched around Jericho, they would see the scarlet cord over and over. German archaeologists excavated Jericho from 1907 to 1909 and confirmed the historical record by finding a section of the wall with houses still intact where the outside walls of several houses were formed by the wall itself. Again and again the archaeological digs confirm the historical reliability of the Bible record.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, Your amazing grace is, well, amazing. To think You cared so much for the prostitute Rahab. Lord Jesus, You also cared so much for the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1-11). Thank You, Great Creator, that You care for me too. I pray that I will appreciate Your care more and more every day. “God be merciful to me a sinner” is a prayer You guarantee will make me right before You (Luke 18:9-14). As Rahab said, “So be it.” Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Our daughter Ellen, now Ellen Shaheen, mother of six wonderful children and grandmother of three, studied in Israel before her marriage to Rev. Nizar Shaheen. Norma-Jean and I had not seen her for seven months when, right there in Jericho, she came running to meet us as we emerged from our tour bus. It was a joyous reunion. I’ll never forget the excitement I felt. It was in Jericho that on one occasion Jesus healed a blind man, and on another, two blind men. I can only imagine the excitement in Jericho then. I feel sad when I pass by Jericho these days on our tours because it is in the Palestinian Territory now and the walls (figuratively and in some places literally) are up again. I pray fervently for lasting peace in that region.
Yours for the “scarlet cord” of redemption through the Blood of Christ, which is wrapped around the world. The saving blood of Jesus reaches everywhere!!! In 2015, my friend, Andre Crouch, went to be with the Lord. As I meditated on the symbolism of the scarlet cord, I’ve been singing Andre’s song, “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” (click here for this blessed song!).
David
Here you can see that the ancient wooden door of St. Stephen’s Gate has been covered with metal from top to bottom for greater protection.
It’s great to be studying the book of Joshua now. Just wondering who is telling this story, i.e. Moses seemed to be telling the Exodus story?
Blessings.
When He Cometh:
https://youtu.be/_4tCMwECQhM
According to Tyndale Life Application Bible …it says “under vital statistics”..”Joshua. Except for the ending, which may have been written by the high priest, Phinehas, an eye witness to the events recounted there”
Thank you Blessed. It’s just when reading the following:
Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from [a]Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” It sounds like someone other than Joshua is telling the story.
Love your name:-)! God’s blessings on you and all saints.
Thank God for the blood of Jesus which avails for our sins. How we need to be about our Father’s business winning souls to Him. Amen! Expect a big snowstorm here Sunday and Monday! Keep safe Maritimers!
Lynda, I read in the Day unto Day commentary that Joshua is the author.
Thank you Ger. I thought it might be Joshua talking but just wanted to make sure as I enjoy reading the bible as long as I know who’s telling the story.
Hope u get lots of food in the house and settle down to wait out the storm. We’re in the West and the tv channels aren’t even mentioning us so it must be going to be quite a storm. God be with you.
We already have The Big Snowstorm! Cannot see the escarpment which is so close! (Hamilton Mountain has disappeared)!!
Hi sah and Donna I need to share something with used two ladies the reason why I was so interested in her sleeping disorder is because I have a mental illness myself and I am on meds and I do see a psychiatrist so I hope that will answer any thoughts that you may have had or still do have so yeah I just thought I would share that with you so please forgive me if I came across uncaring or not thoughtful that was not my intention and when I say mental illness it started with me in in the year 2000 and I went to go see my doctor and he put me on antidepressants but it wasn’t until September of 2006 sat I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and I have had episodes of bipolar so I just want to say I’m sorry if I came across harsh or thoughtless or uncaring that was not my intention whatsoever I just I just wanted to know and understand her situation so I hope that you will forgive me and I will pray for her in in the in the future and thank you for hearing me out and if you wish to comment. That’s fine but I just thought I would clear the air and and set and set the record straight so thank you again for hearing me out God bless and take care
Marilyn Busse, dear precious Child of God! You did the right thing! You asked questions! The Lord told me to “talk” and keep “talking” about my illness because I know that many people have health issues and as I said in regards to mental illness and a sleep disorder;
so many feel ashamed; I have seen this right in my church; how people have shamed me because I should be able to “just set your alarm and get up” …….yes, at one time this worked BUT God changed my life in many ways AND it works for me AND I am so thankful….Marilyn I have no anger or resentment against you at all. I was so happy to be able to share because as I said so many times, others are going through the same thing but feel awkward or scared or ashamed of talking about any issues regarding our mental health…..
I am so thankful that we have opened up some doors for others to share their life issues! The Word says we are to bear one another’s burdens, we are to pray for one another and we are to forgive as we have been forgiven….
My Pastor is very happy that there is communication about mental illness happening; many need to know that there is no shame, it is a chemical imbalance; in many cases, medication works, great and in my case meds were good at one time AND THEN GOD did
a miracle! HE REMOVED SMOKES/BOOZE FROM ME;BROKE MY LEG, BEGAN REHAB AND WOW! LEARNED TO SWIM!
again Marilyn Busse you did the right thing! You began asking questions and I am so very happy you did! I love you and may God bless you richly….I. going to have breakfast and get ready to go swimming tonight! BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE
P.S.
Marilyn Busse I was diagnosed at 47 years of age that I was bi-polar; it was a real “b-e-a-c-h” of an illness when I was younger; it was hell…..tried many times to take my life…..BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS..out of this has come the Sleep Disorder….but I still thank the Lord because it all works for me and again, I am so thankful to share and perhaps help others ….Blessings and thank you
My only thought was perhaps you or someone you knew had a sleeping disorder and you were looking for answers—-you did not come across to me as harsh, or thoughtless or uncaring, but it seemed important to you, which is why I thought I would comment otherwise, I would have stayed out of it since your questions were directed at Sah and not me.
Although I personally did not require an explanation I thank you for sharing your reasoning.
I was diagnosed with depression myself back in 2017– but like many I was suffering from anxiety since my teens (now in my late 50’s)— I have been responding well with therapy so well I no longer need meds, but encourage those who need them to stay on them.
Dealing with mental health issues is something many Christians face–the Lord has strengthen me by showing I am not alone in my struggles– which is why Sah has been such an encouragement for me– her positive attitude and her strong faith in God’s care for us in all situations whether it be as big as dealing with health, or something as small as helping find lost keys, helped me many times.
This is what Christian fellowship is all about, and I am glad to have found that fellowship here on this blog with so many inspiring Christians– not for anything big, but for their faith facing life- warts and all—God bless all of you.
dear sweet Donna! if you could see me I am dancing a celebration song! I am so thankful that pp feel they can share their stories, that is exactly what I hoped would happen!
We need to understand that God is right here beside each one of us, and one day I thought I heard him say “Well finally people are talking about their health issues and especially mental health, I sure worked hard at that project, but Thank you my dear children” from Your Loving God….
we used to have an excellent Doctor of Mental Health and he made a comment that changed all of our lives forever; he used to hold hugh meetings in the town hall where hundreds attended and he wanted to talk about mental illness and how it is not something to be afraid of and to get us all talking and asking questions! The government got rid of him in a hurry, he went back to Ontario but he made this statement:
EVERY MAN,WOMAN AND CHILD HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE HORMONES!
that was the most profound statement many of us had ever heard but it made such a big difference in our lives and no longer were we afraid of talking…so I thank God for this Doctor, his name was Dr. John Snellgrove. super good doctor, trained in Mental Health and the same with his wife…I pray God has continued to Bless him….
Thank you for explaining the reason for your e-mails to Sah. God understands and He is quick to forgive. Amen!!
Amazing how brave Rahab was! No wonder she is in Jesus genealogy .
Still cold outside, but Sunday is to be warmer.
Yes, stay warm Ger!
very interesting that these past few days the lesson mentions a wall….
it makes me pray for the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, I know that God know this man, and I am thankful, I pray the Lord continues to bless him and his family and his leadership, in Jesus Name we pray amen
Amen to that Sah!!
Thank you Lynda and Irene.
I am happy to see people sharing their concerns with others freely on this blog such as SAH and MARILYN. Thank you DONNA for your thorough explanation.
This is how it should be. We Christians should care for each other without judging and pray for one another . Thank you again for all of you who have had the courage to speak up. We all face our own “issues” of some sort. As SAH said, we need to love one another, pray for each other and so help carry each other’s burdens.
SAH, like yourself, I am afraid of water. Would love to be able to swim but am too afraid to let go. I am very happy for you that you were able to overcome your fear. God bless you and everyone on this blog.