Spurgeon Morning and Evening April 18 AM

Biblical Context

The book of Joshua tells the story of Israel moving into the promised land after Moses died. Joshua takes over, and God tells him to be strong and brave because He will be with him. Before attacking Jericho, one of the first and most fortified cities, Joshua sends two spies to check out the land.

These spies end up at the house of Rahab, a woman living in Jericho. When the king of Jericho finds out about the spies, Rahab hides them. She then tells them that everyone in Jericho is terrified of the Israelites because they’ve heard how God dried up the Red Sea and helped Israel win battles. Rahab says she believes the God of Israel is the one true God and she asks the spies for a promise: save her and her family when Israel attacks. The spies agree, telling her she must tie a scarlet cord in her window. This cord will be the sign to the Israelite army to spare her house when they invade. Our verse, Joshua 2:21, is when she acts on this promise, showing her faith and trust in their word, and in the God they serve.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word ‘scarlet’ in our verse. In Hebrew, the word used here is shani (שָׁנִי). It refers to a deep, bright red dye often made from the kermes insect. This color wasn’t just any red; it was a noticeable, special red. It popped out against other colors.

Throughout the Old Testament, scarlet shows up in important ways. It was used in the curtains of the tabernacle, a holy place where God met with His people. It was also part of the robes worn by priests. Sometimes, scarlet shows up when talking about sin, like in Isaiah 1:18, where it says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Most importantly, scarlet was used in rituals for cleansing and purification, like for someone who had a skin disease or a house that needed cleaning, as seen in Leviticus 14. This color, shani, carries big ideas of making something clean, covering sin, and showing something important.

Rahab’s Simple, Firm Faith

Rahab really believed what the spies told her. She saw them not just as men, but as messengers from the God of Israel. Her faith was clear and strong, and it showed up in what she did. The text says, ‘Her faith was simple and firm, but it was very obedient.’

Think about what she did: tying that scarlet line in her window. It might seem like a small thing, something that doesn’t matter much. But she wouldn’t risk leaving it out. She did exactly what she was told. This shows us something important about how we live our faith too.

A Lesson for Your Soul: Obedience to Every Command

This simple act of Rahab asks us, ‘Come, my soul, is there not here a lesson for thee?’ Have you really listened to all your Lord wants you to do? Even if some of His commands feel like they’re not a big deal, do you still do them?

The text brings up two specific commands for believers: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Have you done these things in His way? If you’ve pushed these aside, it shows a lack of loving obedience in your heart. We’re called to be blameless in everything, even down to tying a thread, if that’s what God tells us to do. It’s about doing all He asks, not just the parts that feel easy or important to us.

Trusting in the Precious Blood of Jesus

Rahab’s scarlet line also brings a much deeper lesson to mind. Have you put all your trust in the precious blood of Jesus? Think of tying that scarlet cord like a ‘Gordian knot’ in your window. This means your trust is so strong, it can’t ever be moved.

Can you look at the ‘Dead Sea of your sins’—all the wrong things you’ve done—or the ‘Jerusalem of your hopes’—all the good things you want God to do—without seeing the blood of Jesus? You need to see everything through the lens of His blessed power. His blood is what makes everything possible for you.

Making the Atonement Clear to Everyone

That scarlet cord was a very bright color, easy for anyone passing by to see. It hung there for all to look at. It’s good if your life also makes the amazing work of Jesus’ atonement clear for everyone who sees you. What do you have to be ashamed of?

Let people or even devils stare if they want to; ‘the blood is my boast and my song.’ You shouldn’t hide what Jesus did for you. Let your life show it out loud.

Security When Destruction Comes

You need to know this: ‘My soul, there is One who will see that scarlet line, even when from weakness of faith thou canst not see it thyself.’ Jehovah, the Avenger, will see it and will ‘pass over’ you, just as He passed over the houses with the lamb’s blood in Egypt.

Jericho’s walls came crashing down. Rahab’s house was built right into that wall, yet it stood safe and untouched. You are part of humanity, built into its structure. But when destruction comes for everyone else, you will be secure. ‘My soul, tie the scarlet thread in the window afresh, and rest in peace.’