Saved by a Scarlet Thread

Nobody wanted anything to do with me.

I was Rahab, the prostitute. 

My family treated me like the plague,

And my neighbours turned the other way when I opened my door.

I didn’t have any other way to make a living.

So I lived with the shame, ridicule, and loneliness.

Little did I know that soon,

I would be saved by a scarlet thread. 

The urgent knock at my door sounded different.

My customers would knock suggestively,

But these knocks were desperate.

I opened the door,

And found two men standing there. 

They looked different, and they didn’t speak like we did.

It dawned on me then that I had spies,

Standing at my doorstep.

For a moment I thought to leave them there,

But for some reason, I let them in. 

Little did I know that because of this simple gesture,

I would be saved by a scarlet thread. 

I gave them something to eat and drink, 

And as soon as they were done,

I heard shouting at the door.

“Open up in the name of the king!”

I hurried the two spies to the roof,

Covered them completely,

Then rushed down to open the door.

The king’s messenger stood there,

Looking agitated and flustered.

“Where are they?” 

I had anticipated this question,

And I had the perfect answer.

“They left just before the gates closed,

Maybe you can catch up with them.”

My answer seemed to satisfy him,

And he left,

Muttering under his breath. 

I still had no idea,

That I would be saved by a scarlet thread. 

I took the spies out of their hiding place,

And urged them to leave immediately.

Before they left, though,

I asked one thing.

“When you come back, remember me and my family.”

I had realized that these spies were not ordinary people,

But they were servants of God,

And I wanted to be safe,

When He sent them to destroy my city. 

“We will,” they said, “as long as you tie this scarlet thread to the window.”

I agreed to this,

As simple as it sounded,

Because I wanted to be saved by the scarlet thread.

But it was more than just being kept safe.

It was a new start.

I wanted to start afresh.

To have a new life,

With no stares, whispers, or side-eye looks. 

I wanted to start again,

And be given a second chance. 

A new home. 

A new community.

A new life. 

Perhaps being saved by the scarlet thread,

Would give me a new lease of life. 

So I did it. I listened for the enemy army,

With my scarlet thread tied tightly to the window. 

I had gathered my family in my house,

So we sat quietly and waited. 

And they came. 

They rescued all of us.

And took us to their home, 

Where nobody knew us.

Nobody knew me or what I had done. 

I got the fresh start I had longed for.

I was saved by the scarlet thread. 

Maybe you’re like me. 

You want to start again,

But you don’t know how to do it.

Tie that scarlet thread to your window,

As a sign of obedience and surrender,

A sign that you need His help,

A sign that you need His salvation.

And He will come.

He will give you that fresh start you need so desperately. 

Yes, dear friend,

You can also be saved by the scarlet thread. 

Anybody can be saved by the scarlet thread.

They just need to hang it out of their window in faith. 

And the Lord will rescue them,

And give them a fresh start.