Day 9
Scripture: Joshua 2:1-24, 6:15-25
Symbol: Red cord
A Gentile, a Canaanite, a worshipper of dozens of false gods, follower of a religion which practiced child sacrifice (Deut 12:31) and sorcery (Deut 18:9,10), and a prostitute. When she heard of the God of Israel, how could she not be afraid? She said her "heart melted and no courage remains" because she knew that the Lord God of Israel was the true God, of heaven and earth. How could she stand before such a God? How could she dare to hope for redemption? And yet . . . she dared to believe this God and put herself at His mercy. When she tied that scarlet cord to her window she believed that God would save her. This cord, like the blood of the Passover lamb, gave salvation to her and her family when Joshua and the people of Israel carried out God's judgment on Jericho. Could she have ever imagined that God would forgive her, save her, redeem her from her past - and give her an inheritance far more precious than words - of her lineage the Messiah would come to save not only Israel but people like herself. Gentiles. Foreigners. Worshippers of false gods. Sinners.
How beautiful is the grace of God which embraces the broken, the weak, the dirty, the outcast. How beautiful is the love of God which redeems those who are enslaved to sin, and cleanses them in His own blood that they may be made new - pure and white as snow! And old hymn speaks beautifully of this marvelous grace -
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Discussion Questions
- Why did Rahab protect the two spies?
- What agreement (covenant) was made between Rahab and the spies? What instructions did they give her?
- What might the scarlet cord symbolize?
- Read Matthew 1:5,6. Who was Rahab's son and who did he marry?
- Read Hebrews 11:31. Why was Rahab saved? Compare to James 2:15-26. How are you saved? Read James 2:26 once more and ask yourself this question - is my faith living or dead?
