The scarlet cord would be the indicator to Israel’s soldiers that the inhabitants of that house were to be spared.
Imagine for a moment Rahab and her family inside her house as the Israelite army begins their march around the city. The whole city is in fear and possibly Rahab wonders if she and her family really will be saved.
Rahab placed the scarlet cord in her window as instructed, and I imagine that she checked it frequently to be sure that it was secure. She trusted that the blood-red cord would remind the Israelites of their covenant with her, and that it would protect her and her family from the destruction that was coming.
This scarlet cord was to be a mark identifying her house, and the spies would make sure to tell all the soldiers not to do violence to those inside the house that was marked in this way. So the soldiers would “pass over” the house with the blood red cord, and all inside would be saved.
This red cord in the window was to Rahab what the blood of the Lamb was to the Israelites when they painted it on the doorframe during the Passover to keep their firstborn safe from the destroying angel (Ex 12). The angel saw the blood and saw that death already happened there, and therefore no death was further needed, even as the soldiers saw the blood red cord in Rahab's window and spared the lives of those in that home.
The “scarlet cord” is symbolic of the blood of Jesus (our Passover Lamb) and becomes a picture of the protection and security given to all who believe in the death of Jesus for their sins, the blood He shed to protect them from the coming wrath, and the very means of their being brought in to the family of God.
Indeed, Rahab and all her family were saved, and eventually Rahab, the former prostitute marries into the nation of Israel and is, shockingly, placed into the genealogy of the coming Messiah. The outsider was brought in by the grace of God. And God did more for her than she asked or could even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Now, notice how you and I are treated exactly like Rahab was:
Ephesians 2:12-13 (NIV) Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Question 3. How does Ephesians 2:12-13 apply to you personally? Please share your thoughts here:
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Mike L. writes, "Before I came to a saving knowledge of what Jesus did for me on the cross I was destined to eternal damnation with out hope. Now because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for me on the cross I have been accepted as a child of God. Now I have this amazing hope with in me, I feel loved and secure, know that I will have eternal peace in heaven with Jesus. All praise and glory to God our Father!!"
Kelly writes, "I love how Rahab is now married into the nation of God. She was once identified as a prostitute, a scandalous woman, that lived on the outside of town, Joshua 2:15, but has now become Gods daughter. She's not an outsider anymore. She has a people, a name and is no longer identified by her sin and shame. Her identity is now wrapped up in God.
I can so deeply relate to Rahab in this story. No matter how bad my sins were, how shameful they were, how much on the outside they made me, they did not push Lord back from the Cross. Back from dying for me, making me His own. Like Rahab, I once was a scandalous woman, on the outside who prostituted her self to sin and Satan but now the bride of Christ."