The Token of Assurance

 

And Joshua, the son of Nun, sent out of Shittim, two men to spy secretly saying, “Go view the land, even Jericho,”  and they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there  ( Joshua 2:1 ).

After crossing the Jordan River, the city of Jericho was to be conquered before Israel could inherit the promised land.

The two spies sent by Joshua to spy out Jericho, came to Rahab’s house, who was a harlot.

Now this seems an odd place for two men of God.  What were they doing in a harlot’s house?  Boy, does this leave room for gossip.  People could use their vain imagination and make up wild stories about this.

Evil imaginations always run wild, especially among those who are not truly committed to God.

Wait until the organizational board hears about this.  Tell me again witness, did you say they entered a harlot’s house?  I’ll have these two preachers stripped of their credentials before tomorrow.

People always look at the dark side of things and expect the worse.  Thank God, there is always the light of truth.

I remember when I was younger, I had come home from school,  hung  my  clothes on a hanger by the closet door, turned out the lights, and went to bed.  Moments later, as I peered into the darkness, I saw a strange form in my room.  My heart began to pound faster and faster as I lay there unable to move.

I could imagine all kinds of strange evil things coming after me.  The darkness will certainly play tricks on you.  I finally got up enough courage to turn the light on.  There was my clothes hanging by the closet door where I had put them.  The light made the difference.  Some people are so quick to condemn before checking things out for the real truth.

I was working once in a town in California, and while there, I saw a strip tease belly dancer.  You might say, “What was I doing going to see a belly dancer?”  When the light of truth is turned on, there is no problem.

The place where I was employed hired this girl as a secretary.  In the evenings, she ran a belly dancing club.  The reason I know this, is because she showed me some pictures of her actions.

After a few short gasps, I began to witness to her about Jesus Christ, and her need for salvation.  Thank God for the light of truth on this matter, or I would have been in trouble.

The two spies were hiding in a harlot’s house, hiding for fear of their lives.  The whole city of Jericho was so wicked, that perhaps the harlot’s house was the only safe place to hide.  Rahab probably was the only person there worth saving.  The Scriptures seem to indicate this.  Even though she practiced this wicked profession, she believed in the God of Israel.

She knew that Jericho was soon to be destroyed by Israel.  She had heard the news of how Israel defeated other cities by the power of God.  Her conscience bothered her.  She knew she was not saved.  She read the signs of her time.  Time was running out for the city of Jericho.  The judgment of God was soon to fall on this wicked city.
Listen to the prayer of this sinner woman, “For the Lord your God, He is God in Heaven above, and in earth beneath.”  What a confession!  Would to God, we had more confessions like this today in our evil generation.

Rahab wanted to be spared.  She said, “Give me a true token.”  She wanted a token of truth, a token of assurance, and a token of hope.

The men of Israel did not have time to explain the Passover events to Rahab.  They did not have time to explain the blood on the doorposts.  They told Rahab to take the scarlet thread, and hang it out her window

.           Rahab probably looked at this scarlet thread, and wondered how it was to save her and her family.  She didn’t have time to figure it all out.  She didn’t have time to be rebellious.  This was her only token of assurance on being saved.

She had nothing to lose, but everything to gain.  By her faith in obedience to the words of the spies, she walked over to her window, and hung out the scarlet thread.
After a few days, there was heard in the city walls a cry of alarm.  The army of Israel was seen on the horizon.

Rahab quickly ran over to her window to check on the scarlet thread, it was still there.  She secured her family in the house and waited.

Can    you    picture    the    faith    of    this    pagan    woman?       She   was    not brought up around Jewish worship.  She was not instructed in the Jehovah God of Israel, yet she surrendered in complete obedience.  Her and her family were huddled in their house for seven days, as Israel marched around the walls of the city.

On the seventh day, she heard a strange noise, it sounded like ram horns, and shouts of people.  The walls immediately began to fall all around the city, except where Rahab’s house was.

I believe God looked down on the scene that day.  When He looked down, He didn’t see just a scarlet thread, but I believe He saw the shed blood of Christ.  With God, Christ was already slain from the foundation of the world.

Rahab and her whole family were saved that day because she put her faith in the God of Israel.

When you walk down God’s hall of faith in Hebrews, chapter eleven, you will find Rahab listed among the heroes of faith.  Her name is placed alongside Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.

People are looking today for a token of assurance.  I give you God’s Word.  If you will cling to it by faith, you will be delivered from destruction.  This is your life line for salvation.

Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of God will endure forever and ever.

Our generation today is headed for destruction.  The Word of God is our only token of assurance to get out of this old world of sin.

Lord, give me this token of assurance.

Lord, give me this token of salvation.

Lord, give me this token of mercy.

Lord, give me this token of grace.

Lord, give me this token of hope.

The only token of assurance given to our world today, is the assurance we will escape the judgments of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.