“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. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.”
Joshua 2:17-19 NKJV
Scarlet cord
God uses so many disparate people to bring about His plan. Very often, those people are the outcasts, the ones that no one expects to be useable. But God’s ways are not our ways, and He sees the heart, whereas we tend to be focused on the outward.
Though we all come from a vast variety of backgrounds, we have one unifying factor, for we have, like Rahab, tied a spiritual scarlet cord from our windows, having accepted of God’s grace through faith in Jesus.
I love to read Joshua, and I am delighted as I approach it each year. It is like an Ebenezer stone for me, reminding me of the Lord’s faithfulness. Like Joshua, like Rahab, I too have been moved by faith, toward an unseen promised land.
Rahab had heard of the great things the God of Israel had done for HIs people. She was fearful, yet drawn, foreseeing blessing in worshipping such a great God. When the king of Jericho sent men to see if the spies were with her, she acted by faith and sent the men to another place. She then went to them and sought assurances.
“Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
Joshua 2:8-11 NKJV
Rahab saw the power of the unknown God, and was willing to be identified, acting only on the word of strangers, and all that she had heard.
Brothers and sisters, we too have tied the scarlet cord, as we have been saved by faith in Jesus, for it is His blood that for which the scarlet cord is symbolic. May we be those who live holy lives that testify of the power of God to overcome the enemy that is sin.
May be a people walking in the Lord’s righteousness, have been powerfully transformed. May those who know us be shaken by the change the Lord has made.
My people, we are going into warfare, for the enemy knows that he has but a short time left. He will go after us, seeking to destroy us. Be on the lookout, for he has tempters everywhere, around every corner, and in every pew.
But we must be found worthy, for we know that the Lord has a plan. Unlike us, who have the Holy Spirit, and the complete word of God, Rahab had nothing. But the Lord was faithful above and beyond what we could imagine, as He not only spared her family, but entered her name into the bloodline of Christ.
“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.”
Matthew 1:5-6 NKJV
Because of that scarlet cord, that great faith in a great God, those who believe are etched into the Lamb’s book of life. May we withstand all that may come, and may we remember what the Lord told Joshua:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
THE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me your requests!
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Musings from an idle mind 
Thank you Bernie! Will you please pray for my strength and courage? Teaching Ephesians for tonight at GCR, and have some difficult ministry issues going on.
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Praying that you have clarity and calm as you teach. May the Lord anoint your words.
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Thanks so much for your prayers Bernie! The teaching last night seem to go well, and I was told it was better teaching that I had done before. Praise God that the gospel went out, it will you continue to pray for salvation in our GCR family please? Teen Challenge and The Refuge and Winterset both attend, and there are unsaved people from our church and off the street. It’s amazing to be a part of and wish you were with us! Thank you thank you thank you for your ministry
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Praying
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Here’s the teaching from Tuesday night. I love the way the Lord brings incredible connections and ideas to mind after it’s all said and done. I just go back to the fact that he planned in in His providence completed what he would’ve had me say that evening. God is so good!
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