Yesterday I taught a Bible Study Class out of Joshua 2. I love to teach but hesitate in making a total commitment through the summer so I am grateful for every opportunity.
The lesson was on a woman in the Bible named Rahab. It speaks of her faith and standing against the common belief of the land. She asks for salvation for her and her family during a time of impending takeover.
She provides a favor for spies sent by Joshua by hiding them in her home. In return she requests that they favor her when they come in to take the city. She is told to tie a scarlet or "red" cord in the window so she and her family can be identified. Without hesitation, Rahab proceeds to do so and she and her family are spared.
As I was preparing the lesson, I thought of the takeover and what is usually involved in a war for a city, territory or anything else. There is alot of red tape involved in an undertaking this big. Weapons, manpower, funding, timing....where was this coming from? Who would provide? Would anyone volunteer? Who would lead the charge?
I have to say that in this takeover, there was no red tape....God just spoke. Stop and think about it. I provided a roll of red duct tape. I then unrolled it and displayed how it can hinder us when we wrap that red tape around our hand, or how we can "tape" things together making it difficult to pull apart, but the biggest thing about this red tape was that things would adhere to it.
As I tried to unroll it, the adhesive pulled on the tape itself causing it to stick together. What a challenge to pull it apart! Can you imagine if we had "red tape" faith rather than red cord faith? With red tape faith, we would allow stress, worry, concern, issues and so many other things to attach itself to our faith. What kind of faith is that?
Rahab heard, believed and then acted on her faith. She followed instructions to a tee and tied that red cord to her window as she was instructed. Her actions were immediate, precise, and with expectation. No surprise there....God saved her.
So if you're in a situation that is testing your faith, consider how your will respond. You have a choice. Will you display red tape faith or red cord faith.
The men said to her, this oath you made us swear will not be binding unless when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through whivh you let us down...
"Agreed" she replied. "Let be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:17 & 21
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