Scarlet Cord

Joshua 2:1-24

Key Verse 2:17-18

The men 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.

This passage teaches us the faith of Rahab which resulted in her salvation and the salvation of her household. At the same time the passage teaches us very important pieces of wisdom in fighting the Lord's battle.

1. Read v. 1 and compare this spy mission with the one that took place forty years ago (cf. Numbers 13,14). What do they have in common? Yet how are they different? Why do you think the two entered the house of a prostitute? What wisdom does this passage teach us in fighting the Lord's battle (Mt 10:16)? 

** The two have one thing in common, that is, to discover the enemy’s situation. 

** The former was a public operation with all Israelites knowing what was going on. But the second one was a secret operation with only Joshua and the two being in the know. The former involved 12, but the latter only two. The former involved a longer period of time, but the latter only a short period of time. The former involved larger territories with no particular focus, but the latter with a specific focus, Jericho. 

** 1) We must know the enemy well. 

2) We must be shrewd, as shrewd if not more shrewd than our enemies, especially in taking care of the spiritual morale of the Lord's army, so that the soldiers would not lose hearts. 

Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

2. Read vs. 2-3 and describe the nature of the intelligence information the king of Jericho was informed by. Is there any warning for God's children to heed (cf. Lk 16:8)? 

** It was very accurate. They knew not only the fact that the spies slipped in, but also where they are staying. 

* This indicates that the Israelites screwed up, showing that the enemies were more shrewd than the children of God. We need to learn from enemies, so we would not remain naive all the time, and lose the battle all the time. The only way to avoid this kind of stupidity is to fully repent and turn to the Lord, so the Lord would fill us with His Spirit of wisdom.  

Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--

3. Read vs. 4-7. What does this passage tell us about "the woman"? What does this passage tell us about the importance of woman in fighting the Lord's battle?

** She is: smart, decisive, quick, shrewd, efficient, and brave. 

** Failure came from woman, so victory also comes from woman. 

4. Read vs. 8-13. What kind of wisdom is there for us to learn in fighting the Lord's battle, and win all the time?

** The wisdom for us to sit down, put all the factors together, compare and analyze them objectively (without any pride or human feelings involved), thinking based on cold facts, and make a judgment thoughtfully and thoroughly, until a specific plan of action comes from this. This reminds us of Acts 17:11.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

The prodigal son in Jesus' parable of a prodigal son also did the same thing in Luke 15:17-18. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you."

Salvation is never ‘a joke’. We heard the messages of judgment waiting for those who do not believe. So what do we do with these messages? We must be serious in coming up with a solution to avoid the impending judgment, and be saved through all practical means. 

5. Read vs. 14-16 and describe the further help she offered. What does this show us about the woman? What can we learn from her?

** She is absolute in helping God's servant. She offered  partnership to God's children by thinking through all the steps needed to be taken until salvation should come to her and her household. 

** She had a shepherd's heart, wisdom, love, and tactics for sheep (i.e., the two spies). As a layman, she dedicated all of the skills, information, and experience to serving God's flock. She reminds us of Lydia in the Bible in Acts 16:14-15.

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.

Read also Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

6. Read vs. 17-21. The word "unless" is repeated twice. How do the conditions that follow the word "unless" remind us of  the way of salvation in the Lord (cf. Exodus 12:13)? 

** It reminds us of the need for us to practically accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior, and demonstrate to the world positively our faith by professing it not only privately but also publicly. 

7. Read vs. 22-24 and describe the report they brought back to Joshua. In what respect do you think this kind of good report was necessary for Joshua (cf. 1Th 1:5)?

** This must have planted in Joshua deep conviction of victory. 

The end. 

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