Last Sunday, we began our sermon series on the Book of Joshua. The book starts off with the Israelites camped on the eastern bank of the Jordan River. Then, God commanded Joshua to lead them across the river and conquer the Promised Land. Joshua initiated the conquest by taking steps to probe the situation in the Canaanite stronghold of Jericho. Chapter 2 tells us: “Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, ‘Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.’ So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.” Joshua 2:1 (NLT2)
Notice that, of all the places that these two Israelite spies might have gone, they decided to go into a house of prostitution. Now, if we were watching a James Bond movie, that is what we would expect from a spy. But, these were Joshua’s spies sent on a holy mission. So, how do we explain this? Well, Old Testament scholars believe that Rahab’s house was probably a small inn that took in travelers. These two Israelite spies were likely looking for a place like this inn where they could blend in with other guests. Therefore, the fact that the spies entered a house of a prostitute does not necessarily indicate anything amiss regarding their moral fortitude. Sometimes when we are going about God’s business, we can end up in some unexpected places. But, wherever He sends us, that’s the place we are supposed to be. Such was the case with the two Israelite spies as they entered Rahab’s abode.
As it turned out, the spies were given accommodations on the top floor of Rahab’s establishment—or, to be more specific, they were given a place to stay on the roof. I am sure that they were tired from their journey and a bit apprehensive now that they were far into enemy territory. So, they wanted to get a good night’s rest before moving on with their mission the following morning. But then, they received an unexpected guest who wanted to speak with them. The narrative continues by telling us: 8 “Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. 9 ‘I know the LORD has given you this land,’ she told them. ‘We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.’” Joshua 2:8-11 (NLT2)
This is a remarkable statement of faith on Rahab’s part. It is filled with several lessons for us today. First of all, the very fact that Rahab expressed her faith in God is surprising to us. It may have been surprising to the spies as well. They never anticipated that a Gentile woman would ever have faith in the God of Israel. That prompts us to ask this question: Have you ever thought about witnessing to someone, but held back because you felt sure they would never respond favorably to God’s Word? Had you been with these two spies who met Rahab, would you have felt that way toward her? I have to admit that it would have been hard not to feel that way. You may have even convinced yourself that Jesus’ comment about “casting pearls before swine” was applicable to a person like Rahab. Unfortunately, Jesus’ comment is one of the most misunderstood in the Bible. We must be willing to share Christ’s Good News with anyone we meet without first trying to decide, based upon our limited knowledge, whether that person will be receptive or not. While we might assume someone will reject the Gospel message, we simply never know whether that will hold true. Often, the Holy Spirit goes about preparing the heart of some unlikely person to receive Christ and all that’s necessary is for someone (like you or me) to be the bearer of His Good News. So, in such circumstances, we’d be doing that prospective believer a great injustice by thinking that we’d be wasting our time—in other words, “casting pearls before swine.”
You see, when Jesus warned against “casting pearls before swine,” He was referring to a very limited set of circumstances. He was referring to those times when you have offered God’s message of salvation to someone on numerous occasions only to have them repeatedly reject Jesus and ridicule your witness. God does not give us the task of trying to force the Good News upon anyone when they are clearly unreceptive. As one Christian commentator points out: “Pigs don’t appreciate pearls, and some people don’t appreciate what Christ has done for them.”[1] But, we are to err on the side of giving them every chance to hear the message of salvation. Only when we can see that our witness to them is unwelcome, do we have to eventually move on.
Another lesson we can glean from Rahab’s statement of faith is that God’s grace is not only for Jews. Furthermore, God’s grace is not only for Protestants or Catholics—and, it’s not only available to Baptists. God’s grace is not reserved solely for those who come to God as saints. And, what a blessing that is because we are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God.[2] God allows us to come to Him as we are, then the Holy Spirit transforms us into what God intended us to be. Think about it—this is true even for the greatest heroes of our faith. For example, Noah had an alcohol problem;[3] Abraham and Isaac were liars;[4] Jacob was a swindler and a thief;[5] Moses and David were both murders;[6] David was also an adulterer to boot;[7] Matthew was a traitorous tax collector;[8] Peter denied Christ three times;[9] Mary Magdalene was demon possessed;[10] and, Paul was a Jewish jihadist who persecuted and imprisoned Christians.[11] They, like Rahab, had past lives that were marred by many sins. They had done all these terrible things before they had a real encounter with the One True God or His Son, Jesus Christ. Some even had a few lapses after coming to God. But, once they submitted to God in faith, their lives radically changed. Despite their sordid pasts and occasional lapses, God had a plan for their lives—they were plans for good and not for evil so that they would have a future and a hope.[12] You see, it doesn’t matter what you were before coming to Christ. What matters is whether you will allow God to reshape you into what He always intended you to be.
Rahab sensed this and decided that if the God of Jacob could separate the waters of the Red Sea, he could certainly separate those sins of her past from her heart. She was not one of those people who expressed faith but failed to live it out. Because she believed in God and the power of his protection, she stepped out courageously by housing the Israelite spies despite the fact that, if Jericho’s leaders found out, she would have been executed for treason. The risk became even greater when the king of Jericho got wind of the fact that spies were seen in Rahab’s house. Listen to how this woman of faith responded to such a dangerous situation.
Joshua, chapter 2, describes the danger in detail: 2 “The king of Jericho was told, ‘Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.’ 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: ‘Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.’” Joshua 2:2-3 (NIV) So, what was Rahab going to do? Clearly, these Israelite spies had been spotted in her care. How could she deny it? So, what would she tell the king’s men concerning the whereabout of these spies? This is what Rahab said: 4 “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” Joshua 2:4-5 (NIV) Now, what Rahab said was not true. The biblical text goes on to explain the reality of the situation. Despite what she told the king’s men, this is what really happened: 6 “She had taken them [the Israelite spies] up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.” Joshua 2:6-7 (NIV)
It's interesting that some Old Testament scholars have become overly concerned about what they perceive to be an ethical issue here. They debate whether or not Rahab should be called to task for telling a lie about the whereabouts of the spies. But, this passage of Scripture has nothing to do with lying. The point is that, if Rahab had been caught lying about the whereabouts of the spies, she would have surely been killed by the king’s men. What Rahab did was risk her life to save the lives of the two spies. It isn’t her act of giving the king’s men misinformation that should be our focus. Rather, our attention should be directed to something Jesus would one day teach when He said: “12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13 (NLT2) Rehab was willing to lay down her life for her new Israelite friends. In this regard, her action was on par with that of the midwives who misdirected Pharoah by claiming they couldn’t stop the Hebrew women from having strong, healthy male babies.[13] Or, a more modern-day example would be Dietrich Bonhoeffer who, despite the Sixth Commandment against murder, risked his life by joining a plot to assassinate one of the most wicked men of the twentieth century—Adolph Hitler.
Rahab, the Hebrew midwives and Bonhoeffer—they represent people who trusted in God and engaged in courageous, sacrificial acts of faith. As such, their actions are to be commended and not dissected under some self-righteous ethical microscope. In the New Testament, this is confirmed regarding Rahab in the Book of Hebrews which proclaims: “By faith—because she believed in God and His power—Rahab the harlot did not die with all the others in her city when they refused to obey God, for she gave a friendly welcome to the spies.” Hebrews 11:31 (TLB) Her welcome and protection of the spies came with great risk. It also came with great reward. It the short term, her assistance to them saved herself and her family when the Israelites conquered the City of Jericho. As we read on in Joshua 2, we will find that she and the Israelite spies came to an agreement. In return for her help in their escape from the city, the spies guaranteed Rahab and her family safety when the Israelites would eventually come to conquer Jericho. As part of this agreement, there is something very important to note.
Listen carefully to how Rahab helped the spies escape, as well as the terms of their agreement: 15 “Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. 16 ‘Escape to the hill country,’ she told them. ‘Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.’” Joshua 2:15-16 (NLT2) That was Rahab’s part of the bargain. She would lower them down the side of the tall city wall by rope, and then keep quiet about their departure from the city. Now, this is the important part that’s contained in what the spies added to the agreement: 17 “Before they left, the men told her, ‘We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 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. 19 If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. 20 If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.’” And then, Rahab nodded in agreement saying: 21 “‘I accept your terms.’ And she sent them on their way, leaving the SCARLET ROPE hanging from the window.” Joshua 2:15-21 (NLT2) Thanks to Rahab, the spies were successful in their escape. They also made good on their promise to Rahab, for when the Israelites conquered the City of Jericho, the spies saw that SCARLET ROPE Rahab left hanging from the window. Having been informed of her faith in God and her assistance to the spies, Joshua spared Rahab and her family.[14]
Many in the church are familiar with the story about the walls of Jericho tumbling down. It is an important story with a strong theological message. And yet, the tumbling walls of Jericho pale in significance when compared to this passage that twice mentions the SCARLET ROPE. So, why is this SCARLET ROPE so important? Well, quite often in the Bible, a scarlet color is an indicator of something immensely sacred and is often associated with purification. We can see this from the very beginning. For example, the scarlet blood of innocent animals had to be shed in order for God to fashion those animal skins to cover the nakedness of Adam’s and Eve’s Original Sin.[15] The scarlet color of blood flowed over the altar Abraham prepared when God provided a ram for a sacrifice instead of sacrificing Abraham’s son, Isaac.[16] The scarlet blood of lambs was painted on the door posts of the Hebrews’ homes as a sign for the angel of death to “pass over” and spare the first-born Hebrew male children from the plague of death that would come upon the Egyptians.[17] Later, the Law of Moses provided that SCARLET STRING, cedar wood and hyssop should be used to purify and cleanse lepers.[18] When reading the commandments to the Israelites, Moses also used scarlet wool, along with the scarlet blood of calves and goats, to confirm God’s covenant with His people.[19] Throughout the centuries of the Old Testament, animal sacrifices (including many lambs) and their scarlet streams of blood were offered by priests in the Temple on behalf of the people to cover their sins.
This SCARLET THREAD that runs through the Bible becomes even more apparent when John the Baptist turned to Jesus and proclaimed: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NKJV) [20] And so, when we consider that SCARLET ROPE that hung from Rahab’s window, we can see that it signaled salvation for Rahab and her family. But, it was much more than that. It was a ROPE OF HOPE pointing to the salvation offered by JESUS’ SCARLET BLOOD that was poured out in atonement for our sins. For as the Book of Hebrews reminds us: “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22 (NIV) [21]
Yes, that SCARLET ROPE OF FAITH made all the difference in Rahab’s life. It is clear that the Holy Spirit used Rahab’s faith to bring about a radical transformation in her life. You see, she abandoned her illicit occupation and married a man named Salmon of the tribe of Judah. And, out of their marriage, came a son who was named Boaz. This was the very same Boaz who married Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David. And so, if you look in Matthew’s Gospel, you will find this former prostitute, Rahab, is one of the links that establishes Jesus as the Messiah by being of the “House of David.”[22] God’s grace even extended to this Gentile woman who may have seemed like one of the most unlikely people who would play a part in bringing forth the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is a powerful message: The SCARLET ROPE OF GOD’S LOVE AND MERCY is extended to all those who will turn to Him in faith and repent.
Have you taken hold of that SCARLET ROPE? It’s not a rope that lowers you down the side of a city wall the way the Israelite spies were lowered. Rather, it’s the SCARLET ROPE STAINED BY JESUS’ BLOOD that lifts you up into His eternal Heavenly Kingdom. It’s a ROPE—A LIFELINE—that’s available to everyone: All liars, swindlers, thieves, cheaters, murders, adulterers, addicts and demon-possessed. Yes, it’s even a ROPE that Jesus Christ extends to filthy prostitutes like us. But, note something very important. Jesus doesn’t want HIS SCARLET BLOOD painted on you externally as a mere veneer. He made this clear to the Pharisees when he told them they were like shiny, white cups on the outside, but filled with filth and corruption on the inside. Jesus wanted them, as well as us, to be first cleansed by His blood on the inside, and then let it work outward to cleanse our exterior life as well.[23] Jesus wants you to allow the Holy Spirit to get down deep inside and paint the door posts of your heart in a bright scarlet hue. He wants you to hang your SCARLET ROPE OF FAITH from the very window of your soul. Rahab did that and found her salvation even when the walls of Jericho fell to the Israelites. You too can find your salvation even when the things of this world are crumbing all around you. The promises of God are always true and will never let you down. They are always there to lift you up. This is the guarantee of Jesus Christ backed by HIS BLOOD and written in SCARLET LETTERS!
Let us pray.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
March 9, 2025
©2025 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
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[1] “What did Jesus mean when He said to not cast your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6)?” Gotquestions.org, https://www.gotquestions.org/pearls-before-swine.html (accessed March 5, 2025).
[2] Romans 3:23-24 23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
[3] Genesis 9:20-21 20 “After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard. 21 One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent.” (NLT2)
[4] Genesis 20:1-2 1 “Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, 2 Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.” (NLT2) (See also: Genesis 12:11-13.) Genesis 26:6-7 6 “So Isaac stayed in Gerar. 7 When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, ‘She is my sister.’ He was afraid to say, ‘She is my wife.’ He thought, ‘They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.’” (NLT2)
[5] Genesis 27:18-19 18 “So Jacob took the food to his father. ‘My father?’ he said. ‘Yes, my son,’ Isaac answered. ‘Who are you—Esau or Jacob?’ 19 Jacob replied, ‘It’s Esau, your firstborn son. I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.’” (NLT2)
[6] Exodus 2:12 “After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.” (NLT2)
[7] 2nd Samuel 11:3-4 3 “[David] sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, ‘She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.” (NLT2) 2nd Samuel 11:14-15 14 “So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. 15 The letter instructed Joab, ‘Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.’” (NLT2)
[8] Matthew 9:9 9 “Jesus left that place, and as He walked along, He saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Matthew got up and followed Him.” (TEV)
[9] John 18:17, 25-27 17 “The girl at the gate said to Peter, ‘Aren't you also one of the disciples of that man?’ ‘No, I am not,’ answered Peter. . . 25 “Peter was still standing there keeping himself warm. So the others said to him, ‘Aren't you also one of the disciples of that man?’ But Peter denied it. ‘No, I am not,’ he said. 26 One of the High Priest's slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, spoke up. ‘Didn't I see you with Him in the garden?’ he asked. 27 Again Peter said ‘No’—and at once a rooster crowed.” (TEV)
[10] Luke 8:1-2 1 “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took His twelve disciples with Him, 2 along with some women He had healed and from whom He had cast out evil spirits. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.” (NLT2)
[11] Acts 8:3 “But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.” (NLT2)
[12] Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (TLB)
[13] Exodus 1:19-21 19 “‘The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,’ the midwives replied. ‘They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.’ 20 So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 21 And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.” (NLT2)
[14] Joshua 6:16-17 16 “The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, ‘Shout! For the LORD has given you the town! 17 Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies’.” (NLT2)
[15] Genesis 3:21 “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (NASB)
[16] Genesis 22:13 “Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.” (NLT2)
[17] “What is the significance of a scarlet thread?” Gotquestions.org, https://www.gotquestions.org/scarlet-thread.html (accessed March 4, 2024). Exodus 12:21-22 21 “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the BLOOD which is in the basin, and apply some of the BLOOD that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.’” (NASB)
[18] Leviticus 14:2-4 2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp. Thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall give orders to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a SCARLET STRING and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed.” (NASB)
[19] Hebrews 9:19-20 19 “For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the BLOOD of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. 20 Then he said, ‘This BLOOD confirms the covenant God has made with you.’” (NLT2)
[20] “What is the significance of a scarlet thread?” Gotquestions.org, https://www.gotquestions.org/scarlet-thread.html (accessed March 4, 2024).
[21] “The Scarlet Cord as a Symbol of Salvation,” Joshua 2, BibleHub.com, https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_scarlet_cord_as_a_symbol_of_salvation.htm#:~:text=The%20scarlet%20cord%20is%20a%20significant%20symbol%20of,a%20foreshadowing%20of%20the%20redemptive%20work%20of%20Christ, (accessed March 4, 2025).
[22] Matthew 1:5-6 5 “Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was RAHAB). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of King David.” (NLT2)
[23] Matthew 23:25-26 25 [Jesus said:] “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (NIV)
