…Rahab was a wild girl, she was an harlot, exposed to different men. She does that for a living. Rahab’s house was on the city’s wall which makes it easier for strangers to come in to her house.
Hadassah and Rahab are two girls with very different backgrounds, cultures, belief and professions but they had similar assignments. Hadassah, which mean Esther, is an orphan who was adopted by her uncle, Mordecai. She was a very fair and beautiful girl, but she was a slave and a virgin, working with his uncle as a servant at the palace gate.
However, Rahab, on the other hand was a fair and beautiful girl who lived in a city called Jericho. As oppose to Hadassah, Rahab was a wild girl, she was an harlot, exposed to different men. She does that for a living. Rahab’s house was on the city’s wall which makes it easier for strangers to come in to her house. However, Hadassah who lived by the palace-gate, sees the royals and all of kings friends and acquaintances on a daily basis coming in and out of the palace. She would never have thought, or even dreamt of going inside the palace for any reason, let alone becoming the queen.
The Way to the top – God’s Favour
She did not just find herself in the palace as a queen, but she did work her way up through fasting and prayer, coupled with the help of her uncle and the favour of God. King Ahasuerus wanted a new queen after his first wife misbehaved. He wanted a beautiful girl who is still a virgin. The announcement was made round the city but they needed not go far, as a virgin is right in front of the palace gate. Hadassah’s uncle encouraged her to apply for the parade, and in God’s favour, Hadassah was chosen and she became the queen.
“Hadassah was determined to save her people. Hence, she prayed and fasted and asked her people, her maid servants to join in the fast and they all did. After the fast, Hadassah went into the king’s inner court and she found favour in the sight of the king and she was able to save the whole Jewish nation from death.”
Rahab in her own world was very popular due to her profession and she was well known in the city as a harlot of Jericho. She has got her fans, and so also her foes, but she kept on living her life. Things took turn for the worse when the city of Jericho was to be destroyed and spies were sent into the land and the only house available for them to lodge in was that of Rahab’s the harlot. She was known for entertaining guests. No wonder it wasn’t difficult for the spy to gain access to the city. Not for long, the news of the spies got to the king that there were two spies in city and they were lodging at Rahab’s house. The whole city was furious and scared that their city was going to be destroyed if they weren’t careful because they’ve learnt that those spies are from a very powerful city.
Courage in the Face of Danger
The king sent for Rahab to bring out the spies and to hand them over. Rahab was courageous and denied ever seeing any spy and that the ones she had seen had left. She deceived the soldiers that were sent by the king. She told them that the spies had left while she hid them in her house.
One of the king’s right hand man wanted Hadassah’s uncle, Mordecai, to bow to him and he refused. This made him very furious and he then decided to destroy Mordecai and his descendants. Unknown to Haman, the queen is Mordecai’s niece. When Mordecai heard this news, he called Hadassah and explained Haman’s plans to destroy them to Hadassah and it is only Hadassah who could save them. This was an impossible task for the queen because unless the king called for her, she dares not go into the court of the palace. Hadassah was determined to save her people. Hence, she prayed and fasted and asked her people, her maid servants to join in the fast and they all did. After the fast, Hadassah went into the king’s inner court and she found favour in the sight of the king and she was able to save the whole Jewish nation from death.
Rahab, after deceiving the kings soldiers to chase after shadows, she let the spies down from where they were hidden and asked them to make promises to her that they will save her and her family when they eventually come back to take over Jericho. The spies made her an oath and she let them escape through her window and also asked them to remain on the mountain for three days, so the soldiers won’t be able to kill them on their way back. Rahab saved the spies lives and that of her family because when the city of Jericho was captured and destroyed, Rahab and her family were the only one left of all the city of Jericho.
“To go far and be successful in life, you need to exercise courage in your place for you to be discovered. Stay in your place with courage and God will use you where you are, no matter your circumstances. All you need is to release yourself and be available.”
You Are Created to Accomplish a Mission
One thing both Rahab and Hadassah had in common is they both saved their loved ones. It doesn’t matter who you are and where you are, God can use anyone to accomplish His mission. Rahab, an harlot, Esther a virgin, Rahab living on the city wall and Esther in the palace, they both fulfilled their purposes.
Where you are in life is not a coincidence or an accident. It has been ordained by God from the beginning of the world. When you remain in your place of destiny, then you will fulfil purpose. Courage is what makes you remain in your purpose and place. It also sets you apart from the crowd. Hadassah was courageous to go before the king without an invite, and Rahab was courageous to hide the spies from the kings soldiers. To go far and be successful in life, you need to exercise courage in your place for you to be discovered. Stay in your place with courage and God will use you where you are, no matter your circumstances. All you need is to release yourself and be available.
