The Scarlet Thread

Have you ever been on a treasure hunt? Isn’t it fun to follow the clues? Years ago, I learned of a scarlet thread in the Bible that runs from Genesis through Revelation. The clues lead to treasure!

In Genesis chapter 3, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were ashamed. They hid in the garden and tried to cover their sin with fig leaves. Their efforts were futile. They needed a blood sacrifice, and God provided it. God sacrificed an animal and covered them with its skin.

In Genesis chapter 4, Cain and Abel were the first children. Adam and Eve must have taught them to offer a sacrifice to God for sin. Abel offered a lamb, and God received it. Cain offered fruit and vegetables, but God rejected his sacrifice. Why? Cain offered his own work, not the sacrifice God required. This reminds us of different religions. Those who approach God through the sacrifice He requires are received. Those who try to earn God’s acceptance through their own works are rejected.

In Genesis chapter 22, Abraham took his son to Mt. Moriah to offer him as a sacrifice. This is a picture of God the Father offering His Son as our sacrifice for sin. When Isaac asked where the lamb was, Abraham said that God would provide himself a lamb. This is a foreshadow of the Lamb of God the Father gave to save the world from sin.

In Exodus, we learn that the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt for 400 years. God sent Moses to Pharoah with a message: “Let my people go.” When Pharoah repeatedly refused, God sent the plagues. Finally, God said the Israelites should put the blood of a lamb on their doors. God delivered them by sending the death angel to kill the firstborn of the Egyptians, but the people with blood on their doors were safe because the angel of death passed over their homes. This became known as Passover.

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.”
Exodus 12:13-14

Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

When two Jewish spies went to Jericho, Rahab hid them. They offered to protect her when their army returned. “Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.”                     Joshua 2:18-19

The scarlet thread points to the blood of the lamb. Those who believed and stayed in the room with the scarlet thread were safe. Those who refused would be destroyed.

Consider these verses:

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”            1 John 1:7

The book of Revelation reveals even more about the Lamb.

“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Revelation 5:1-6

The Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is the greatest treasure. Have you confessed your sin to God and received Christ as your Savior? Let’s worship Him!

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”                      Revelation 5:9

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13

My article “The Scarlet Thread,” my poem “The Lamb and the Lion,” and a review of Under the Tangerine Tree are included in the April issue of Faith on Every Corner.