THE SCARLET CORD

Today’s Reading: Joshua 2

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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.