Word of the Day (1-19-12)

Good Morning Everyone

Today is Thursday January 19, 2012

The word of the day comes from

Joshua 2:17-21

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁷ Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us ¹⁸ unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. ¹⁹ If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. ²⁰ But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
 ²¹ “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
   So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

My Interpretation

Continuing with our theme, today’s word seems to be a type of Christ. According to gotquestions.org the definition of a type of Christ is: When we say that someone is a type of Christ, we are saying that a person in the Old Testament behaves in a way that corresponds to Jesus’ character or actions in the New Testament. When we say that something is “typical” of Christ, we are saying that an object or event in the Old Testament can be viewed as representative of some quality of Jesus.

Scripture itself identifies several Old Testament events as types of Christ’s redemption, including the tabernacle, the sacrificial system, and the Passover. The Old Testament tabernacle is identified as a type in Hebrews 9:8-9: “the first tabernacle . . . which was a figure for the time then present.” The high priest’s entrance into the holiest place once a year prefigured the mediation of Christ, our High Priest. Later, the veil of the tabernacle is said to be a type of Christ (Hebrews 10:19-20) in that His flesh was torn, (as the veil was when He was crucified) in order to provide entrance into God’s presence for those who are covered by His sacrifice.

The color scarlet is red. Now what is the significance of tying a scarlet cord on the window preventing the children of Israel from killing Rahab’s family? Remember we just looked at the definition of being a type of Christ as well as events that were types of Christ. One of the events mentioned was Passover. What was Passover and what did it signify? Remember when Moses asked Pharaoh to let God’s people go and he wouldn’t? Well as a result, 10 deadly plagues were given to the Egyptians. The 9^th plague was death of the firstborn. The Lord told Moses to have all the Israelites take the blood of an unblemished lamb and wipe it on the door. Don’t go out into the streets at nightfall and your first born would be safe. At nightfall, the Lord would send an angel to kill all firstborn in the land who did not have the blood of an unblemished lamb on the door. The term Passover literally comes from God “passing over” the first born of the children of Israel when He saw the blood.

So you are probably asking, well how is that a type of Christ. Good question. Romans 5:8-9 ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For those of us who are saved through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ, we are no longer seen as sinners before God. We are now seen through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. God has “passed over” the doors of our hearts and we are safe because on the door rest the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1-2 ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. John 10:28-30 ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

So how does this coincide with our text today? Another good question. Just as the shed blood of the lamb over the door signified all those who were safe/saved, the blood of Jesus over the door of our hearts signifies all those who are safe/saved, the scarlet (blood color) cord over the window for the family of Rahab would signify all those in her house would be safe. Remember just as the Lord told Moses and Jesus tells us, if we stay under the safety of the covering we will be fine from harm. When we decide to disobey and do our own thing and something happens to us, that is not on God that is on us. The men told Rahab look it is not up to us to know who is your mom, dad, brother, sister, etc and not harm them. If they happen to be in the street when we are conquering they will die and their blood is on their own hands. Let everyone stay in the house who should be there and when time comes your family will remain safe. It was the red that they saw that allowed them to “pass over” Rahab’s house as they conquered the land. It was the scarlet cord that they saw that would guarantee their promise to Rahab that all inside the house of the scarlet cord would be safe from harm. They made an oath themselves to protect them. That made me think of something else.

When God makes a promise, since there is no one as righteous as Him to hold Him accountable and to swear by, He swears by Himself to uphold it. Awesome! Hebrews 6:13-15 ¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” ¹⁵ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised (reference scripture Genesis 22:15-18).
I know today’s word was a little lengthy but worth it and even with this there is so much more we could have explored. I pray you were blessed.


Have a wonderful, blessed, productive, stress free day!