The Scarlet Cord

Joshua 2:12-13,17-18 - “Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.”

Quickly, the first words above are out of the mouth of Rahab, a harlot in Jericho who helped the men of Israel capture the city. A great testimony of "by faith believing." She had heard, and believed, in this God of Israel and the miracles He brought about. Later, because of her deed, Rahab would become an heir in the lineage of Christ!

You really need to read the entire account in Joshua 2 to get a better picture. Please click on the link!

I read an article which picked apart what the scarlet cord in the book of Joshua symbolized. I already knew that it was symbolic of the blood of Jesus and how He saves. But then it delved deeper, taking the word scarlet apart. It is comprised of three Hebrew symbols (from the Living Word article):
Sheen is the one letter God can use to identify Himself, it is God’s signature, and can mean to consume or to destroy or to press. Noon is the letter that stands for activity or life. Yood is the letter that stands for a mighty deed or a deed accomplished.

Do you see? God is the one who is capable of taking our old lives and transforming (destroying) them (sheen) in order to bring us into a new life (noon) through the act of the shed blood of Jesus Christ (yood). Scarlet...

It brought up Psalm 22:6: But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. Doesn’t that sound like Jesus...He was rejected and despised...and later crucified. Well, the word worm here is not your typical meaning. We know to consider someone a worm is like the lowliest creature underfoot. In this instance it means a scarlet, crimson or blood worm, or in Hebrew, tolah. It attaches itself to a tree. It’s offspring feed on its body and when it is about to die they are covered in red. After three days the worm falls to the ground and turns white! Christ has done the same...He was on the cross, shed His blood died for our sins if we receive Him, and three days after this death He arose again clothed in the white of righteousness. And so can we through Christ. We are covered by the blood...

In case you're interested in more information on this worm: Crimson worm.

This Word of God is amazing. I’ve often felt, but could not explain, how there have got to be thoughts and ideas between each letter, word, sentence and line. This just adds to this thought. To say the Word gives life or is life is an understatement. To study the Word takes us deeper in relationship with Him as we recognize Him and into hidden meanings that just open up His Word.

I have a book I go to once in awhile called the Red Thread by Leonard Yonkman. It describes how Jesus can be found in every book of the Bible, and what His name in every book. I’d like to complete it some day!

I’m so thankful for a God whose Word does not go void. Do you know this God? Have you decided to know Him? Did this little “study” interest you? He calls. He wants us to humble ourselves and come to Him. Just knowing who He is is not enough. It was by His work on the cross that we are saved, not how good we think we are. It is not enough to be content with just the basics of Christ. The more we know Him the more we can learn of Him. We must know Him more than just as a thought. He must take hold of our hearts; reside there. We must take to heart just what He has done for us.

We are called to come to Christ as little children. Our adult natures, mindsets and faulty beliefs can prevent this. Can you believe as a little child? You know how they take everything in and trust whatever is said. Try this. It’s not our religion. Man came up with religion. It’s not about a religion but a relationship, as Jesus wants. Do you have the Son of God closely, intimately, in your life? Is that scarlet cord a reality for you?

1John 5:11-13 - And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Endurance

Matthew 24:7,9-10,12-13 - For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 

How does one endure? It is only through the saving knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. We cannot save ourselves from the ugliness of this world or death. We cannot truly endure without Him. When push comes to shove I want to know that my strength comes from the Lord. Government can't save, my spouse can't save, friends can't save. In trials no one can endure without the Lord Jesus Christ by one's side. Only He has been through the most difficult of trials. Only He can save. 

War, illness, diseases, persecution. All these things can come upon us. But we do not need to fear these if we know the Lord. We can know how to endure because He tells us throughout His Word. We see bits and pieces of these things occurring and even though they may not be that severe in our lives doesn't mean it can't happen. Terrorism is enlarging, persecution of Christians abounding, pride, power and destruction happen daily, and many other issues that God deems as sin run rampant. 

I personally would not want to go through a severe illness without, no matter whether I live or die because of it, His being by my side strengthening me throughout. I know person after person who, in their last days, were able to worship God in the midst of illness because they knew He would either see them through or take them to be with Him. Hands raised in worship! I want that. I like the idea of having the One who created me greet me in the end. 

That's why I write these blogs. I hope that in some way I am able to show Christ to others or to use His Word as encouragement. His Word alone speaks volumes. It's the living Word. It's the truth, the living water. It's the bread that sustains. Taste and see that the Lord is good! His Word also endures forever. And he who grasps this enduring Word, who will learn the truth, will also endure to the end.

1Peter 1:24-25 - ...because “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 

Our Protection

Zephaniah 3:13 - The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

This is one of my favorite scriptures. Yes, our God is mighty to save. Yes, He rejoices over those who seek Him and ask for His protection. It starts when we receive Him and He saves us from our sins, when we turn from the world and turn to Jesus. Psalm 21:4 - He asked life from You, and You gave it to him--Length of days forever and ever. This is eternal life in Christ. Then the lifetime of His protection is available to us.

Look at the analogies regarding His protection:

Our strong tower (Psalm 61:3)...we can run to Him and enter

The cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:22)...He is our Rock

Under His wings (Psalm 91:4)...we can gather there spiritually like a chick to its mother

Call out the name of Jesus (James 4:7)...and the devil must flee 

The sword of the spirit is God's Word (Ephesians 6:17)...brings life to those who wield it and death to those who reject it. We thank Him for His life-giving Word...both the book and Jesus, the Word.

We have all these and the complete and perfect protection if we just have the faith to believe He is and can do these things.

He saves with His right hand: Psalm 20:6 - Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. 

He hears us when we call: Psalm 20:9 - Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.

We will joy in Your strength through the salvation You bring (Psalm 21:1), just as You, the One who is mighty to save, rejoices over us when we seek You.

Psalm 21:13 - Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.