The Rope of Hope

When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house.  Joshua 2:18

The Old Testament is always pointing us towards seeing Jesus and His salvation in it. In Joshua 2, Joshua sends two spies out to check out Jericho before God sends them in to destroy the city. While they are there, the king finds out there are Israeli scouts in the Jericho and he sends out guards to look for them. But they are being hidden in a prostitutes house. When they get to her home, she tells them the spies were there, but they were gone and left the city before the gates closed. So they left and went looking for them.

After they left, they stayed with her for three days. In that time she told them how all of Jericho was fearful of their God because of the amazing things they heard He had done for them after they left Egypt. So because she helped them, they swore an oath with her and gave her a scarlet cord. They told her to hang it from her window, and when the city would be attacked, they would save everyone she brought into her house.

That scarlet cord, was a picture of how Jesus’ blood is our salvation, it rescues us, delivers us, protects and saves us. Just like the scarlet twisted rope given to Rehab. And her salvation went way beyond her and her family. And we are still talking about her today, because through her came King David of Judah the line through which the Messiah was born.

The hope that was brought about through that salvation still functions today for every person that sees themselves as a less then, someone who is defined by their checkered past or failures. Or perhaps facing what appears to be a hopeless situation. Jesus blood still saves, rescues, delivers and protects us. So hold on to the rope of hope of our Savior Jesus and you will never be disappointed.