The Power of an Oath

Explain the story

Joshua 2:15-21

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”

17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless[a] of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 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 [b]bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19 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 [c]guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his [d]blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be [e]free from your oath which you made us swear.”

21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

Its easy for us as we read scripture to miss important details because of our culture now

To the jews there are symbolisms that they would understand

I want to give context to the scripture based on the culture and their understanding at that time

First I will be talking about the scarlet chord and the symbolism

The Hebrew word for chord in this context is Tikvah which has a dual meaning which is physical cord

But its used 30 other times in Hebrew scripture and also means hope

This is not the only symbolism, the red dye also has significant meaning

The Israelites see this as sacrificial blood, atonement, human sin, and redemption

The chord has in meaning has ties all throughout the old testament

Going all the way back to Genesis 3

Explain fall of man

Genesis 3:21

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

This was the first death, theologians believe this was the first sacrifice

From this point on people needed to offer a blood sacrifice to atone for sin

We see blood sacrifice all throughout the old testament

I cant cover all of them but I want to show you a few showing Gods redemption for mankind

In genesis 22 we see Abraham and Isaac

Explain the story-God prepared a ram

Genesis 22:12-13

And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

Abraham was acting with faith and obedience and God delivered a ram for sacrifice

In this we see God’s redemptive plan for salvation by sending a replacement to atone

There is one more story I want to show you to illustrate the symbolism of the scarlet chord and redemption

In exodus 12 we see the Passover

Rahab and the scarlet chord is a direct call back to the Passover

Explain plagues in Egypt- Passover was the final plague-blood on doorpost

Everyone with the blood was spared, just like Rahab and everyone under the cover of her home

Rahab listened and put the chord out the window which would save her

The scarlet chord not only was a symbol to the spies, but it had value

It was expensive and rare

We see red everywhere but in biblical times it was common

The process in which they went through to get it was extensive

It came from the female kermes scale insect

Workers had a brief one month period to gather these insects

Right after they laid their eggs

They were dried and crushed into a powder which gave the scarlet color

There was value in the chord

It is represented in the valuable blood of Christ and His atonement for our sins

The story of Rahab is a foreshadowing of Christ and His redemptive work on the cross

Joshua is actually a Christ figure in this story

He is coming to destroy the city

Everyone under Rahabs roof will be saved and shown mercy

While everyone else will receive judgement

We also see Gods salvific plan for redemption

That it is not just for the Jew alone but for gentiles as well

Here is the application to this story

it wasn’t the scarlet chord that saved Rahab

It was an oath she made, an oath that required faith and obedience

Rahab didn’t just believe there is a God she put her faith in Him

It is possible to believe in God without having faith in Him

We see this in the story

The whole city heard of God, but it was a different reaction

They believed yet instead of faith they were afraid and wanted to kill the spies

Rahab put her faith in God and saved them which led to her salvation

And ultimately led to a gentile woman being in the lineage of Christ

And even being mention in what Christians call the faith hall of fame along side the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Hebrews 11:30-31

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who [a]did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

As Christians we need to have faith like this

Rahab forsook all she knew including the people to have faith in God

She lived in this city, knew the people, she knew of the coming judgement

But listened to the spies trusted God and placed her faith in Him knowing that the city would be destroyed

We need to have an unwavering faith

A faith that says “no matter what I am going to listen to You God”

A complete trust in God, not just a belief that He exists

We need to be completely dependent to God and His words

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of things not seen.

This isn’t a blind irrational faith

It is a confident faith in God that we can trust Him which is proven through scripture

We can trust His character, we can trust what He says

It is your responsibility to put your faith in God

That’s on you, Its not His responsibility to prove Himself to you

Too many Christians walk around in despair and faithless because they have yet to actually put faith in God

We should want faith like Rahab, a harlot, someone that was looked down on

Yet she placed her faith in God

And that faith led to obedience

She didn’t just say she had faith, she showed it

Making an oath with the spies

It took action

By her faith and obedience she received salvation by placing the scarlet chord out the window

We are saved by faith in Christ, but I truly believe if you have received that salvation then it will lead to obedience

They go hand in hand

Week after week 10’s of millions of people will attend a church with no real change

No obedience to God, Christ or the Word of God

And its sad, the state of the church

People use it as a social club, or to make friends

They like the programs, they will deal with the preaching yet ignore the power in it

Maybe even people in this room, the sad part is if that’s you its actually worse for you

You might as well not attend, because you will be held accountable at judgement day for the things you heard and ignored

Obedience is severely lacking within the body

People want to live the way they want and not submit to obedience to God

I attribute it to the hyper grace movement along with social media

People will hear scripture ignore it, then go online and find a preacher that agrees with their theology

And its damaging to you and the body

There needs to be an obedience to Gods word, its reactive, we here it, read it then change

Romans 6:1-2

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

We walk out our faith by being obedient

If there is no obedience have you really received salvation

Because the bible makes it abundantly clear, there needs to be obedience

If not, why did every disciple and apostle change and become obedient

Why would there be in revelation 5 of the 7 churches being rebuked

They stopped being obedient to God

The church needs a change in the people

We must be obedient

1 peter 1:13-16

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Our faith in God must lead to obedience to Him

People want to cry legalism when messages like this are preached

But it isn’t legalism to follow what Gods word says

Explain legalism

The process of being obedient to God and changing your life is called sanctification

And it doesn’t stop until you die

Until then you must continue to make the changes in your life to the obedience of God

Its for your good

We are to become Christ-like its in the name Christian

If you are in the room and have yet to have a faith that leads to obedience then repent now

For all the people that live their life with faith and obedience this message should be an encouragement to you

You are walking out your life with Christ how its intended

Keep up the good work and don’t give up

The world is going to continue to get worse

The world will try to pull you away but stay encouraged living with faith and obedience

In the end it will all be worth it, no matter how hard it its

If Rahab the harlot can have this faith and obedience, then so can you