The Rope

It was because of a lie that I tied the rope. A lie that saved their lives and mine.

It was because I hid them on the roof that I lied. Because men came to call on this home often, but these I chose to protect. It was because of them that I tied the rope.

It was because of their God that these men laid on my roof instead of my bed. Whispers of their God had entered my home many times before these men arrived and now, they were here like harbingers of death. It was because of this fear that I tied the rope.

Their God had given them this land that we resided in. His wrath fell on the kings of Egypt and no statue of their gods stood in His path. No mortal man hunting these scouts would be able to do them harm. It was because of this that I laid them on my roof, that I lied, that I tied the rope.

It was because our hearts had melted that I tied the rope. That maybe the God of these people, could also be a God of mercy. That He might spare me, a sinner who was not worthy of grace. It was because of a hope for this that I tied the rope.

It was because of their promise to deal with me faithfully that I tied the rope. That my honor, which was of little worth to the people here, meant something to these men. It was because of their trust in me that I continued to protect them long after they climbed out the window and left my home. Because of their trust, that I helped them avoid capture inside and outside the wall. Because of their trust, that I tied the rope.

And so, once they left, I tied the scarlet rope to my window.

No longer did I bring men into my bed. But instead, I gathered my family to me and we waited. Fearing and revering the Lord who had set His wrath on Egypt, conquered Sihon and Og, who destroyed the Amorites east of the Jordan.

And there the rope remained until the trumpets sounded and the walls fell. And there it remained when the men returned for me as they had sworn to do. And there it remained as the city burned to the ground and as my family fled. As we left all we knew behind to follow the God of the Israelites. The God of the heavens above and the earth beneath.

It was because He chose to deal kindly with me that I tied the rope.