The End of Your Rope

You must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. (Joshua 2:18 NLT)

My Advent devotional reading today was all about Rahab.  I never realized what an interesting story it is!  To recap:

Joshua had sent spies to scout out Jericho.  They came upon the home of a prostitute by the name of Rahab.  The King of Jericho heard rumors about the spies and their whereabouts but Rahab hid them and helped them escape because she had heard about their God and had faith.  She asked the spies to spare the life of her and her family in return for her help.  The spies agreed and told her to leave the scarlet rope (from which they escaped) hanging out the window to identify them to the troops that would enter.

Ann VosKamp wrote:  "That is always the secret to the abundant life:  to believe that God is where you doubt he can be."

We've all been at the end of rope at one time or another.  And when we are there, it is so hard to believe that God can be there.  We feel hopeless.  Depressed.  Lost.  Friendless.  It would be so easy just to let go of the rope.  But that little mustard seed of faith stirs something deep down in our soul.  And where we doubted God could be, he appears and does amazing things.

A couple of interesting notes about the story of Rahab:

• The Hebrew word for Rahab's rope is "tikvah."  The same word is the Hebrew word for "hope."
• Rahab is the mother of Boaz, the husband of Ruth.  Rahab is the great-grandmother of King David.

A prostitute.  A life at the end of its rope.  Add a tiny bit of faith and a small cord of hope and we have an honored woman in Jesus' lineage.  God was there in the room of that prostitue.  He is there when you are at the end of your rope too.  Believe it.

Father,

Thank you for the uncommon stories of common people that give us hope.  Amen.