Follow The Blood

Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.” “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window. [Joshua 2.17-21] 

In recent articles I have often suggested readers "follow the money" to find idols. Today, I will make a much more important and antithetical suggestion: to find Jesus, "follow the blood."

First, there was an agreement made between the prostitute and the spies. That agreement contained terms. Those terms were that the prostitute and her family would stay in the room where the scarlet rope hung from the window in order to be saved. The terms were simple. Everyone found outside "the room" would be mercilessly destroyed.

As the safety of the room represents the salvation Jesus provides, so the terms of the agreement represent the Covenant Promise of Jesus. The room and the benefit of the terms however may only be found by following the blood of Jesus which is clearly represented by the scarlet rope.

How cool is that?

All the sacrificial blood in the Old Testament in fact, points us to the salvation found only in Jesus Christ.

Father, thank You for Your Word - for Jesus. Thank You for the simple terms of Your Covenant, that if we repent and believe we might enjoy the salvation Jesus provided. Thank You that the blood shows us where the salvation is. Thank You that all the blood of the Bible leads us to the Cross of Jesus. Thank You that Jesus reiterated the Covenant terms when He specified that we must turn from our way, take up our cross, and follow Him. May we be found having given up our own way and having taken up our cross, as followers of Jesus and Jesus alone. So be it.