Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE SCARLET CORD

THE SCARLET CORD*

In the book of Joshua, there is the story of Rehab, a harlot, and of two spies sent into Jericho by Joshua. In essence, when the king of Jericho sent men to search for the spies, Rehab hid them and helped them escape. In return, the spies promised to help and protect Rehab and her family when the forces of Joshua invaded the city. However, this would only be done if she would identify her house by a scarlet cord.

…when we come into the land, 

you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down,

…and whoever is with you in the house, 

his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 

…And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. 

(Joshua 2:18-19,21)

So, it was because of the identification by the scarlet cord that Rehab and her family were saved.

Apparently, in the Talmud, it is recorded that on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, in the time of the Second Temple, a scarlet cord would be tied to the Temple doors and when the ordinances of the day were completed, the cord would turn from scarlet to white.

…Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow… 

(Isaiah 1:18)

This apparently was a sign that the ordinances of Yom Kippur had been accepted and that the sins of the people had been covered. This evidently occurred each year.

The Temple, however, was destroyed by Roman armies in the year AD70. But the rabbis apparently noted a change about 40 years before this when the cord no longer continued to change. This was at the time of Christ’s crucifixion and was felt, by many, to mean that the old sacrifices of the temple were no longer needed because a different sacrifice had been made, one that by the atonement or sacrifice of the Messiah took away sin and saved those who accepted the sacrifice of Christ. As a result, God has cleansed us once for all - all our scarlet sins have been made white as snow. It is now up to us to live, as much as possible, a scarlet free life.

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days…

I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 

then He adds, “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

(Hebrews 10:14,16,17)

Just as the men of Joshua remembered and saved Rehab and her family because they obeyed instruction and were identified by the scarlet cord, so too are we remembered by Christ when we follow His word and accept His sacrifice.

Just something further to think about.

Adapted from The Book of Mysteries p.g. 209 by Jonathan Chan