Morning, April 18
Go To Evening Reading
“She bound the scarlet line in the window.”
Joshua 2:21
Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies,
whom she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel.
Her faith was simple and firm, but it was very obedient. To tie the
scarlet line in the window was a very trivial act in itself, but she
dared not run the risk of omitting it. Come, my soul, is there not
here a lesson for thee? Hast thou been attentive to all thy Lord’s will, even though some of his commands should seem non-essential?
Hast thou observed in his own way the two ordinances of believers’ baptism and the Lord’s Supper? These neglected, argue much unloving disobedience in thy
heart. Be henceforth in all things blameless, even to the tying of
a thread, if that be matter of command.
This act of Rahab sets forth a yet more solemn lesson. Have I implicitly
trusted in the precious blood of Jesus? Have I tied the scarlet cord,
as with a Gordian knot in my window, so that my trust can never be
removed? Or can I look out towards the Dead Sea of my sins, or the
Jerusalem of my hopes, without seeing the blood, and seeing all things
in connection with its blessed power? The passer-by can see a cord
of so conspicuous a colour, if it hangs from the window: it will be
well for me if my life makes the efficacy of the atonement conspicuous
to all onlookers. What is there to be ashamed of? Let men or devils
gaze if they will, the blood is my boast and my song. 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 pass over thee. Jericho’s walls fell flat: Rahab’s house was on the wall, and yet it stood unmoved; my nature is built
into the wall of humanity, and yet when destruction smites the race,
I shall be secure. My soul, tie the scarlet thread in the window afresh,
and rest in peace.