In the Good Book, we are told of a certain promiscuous lady named Rahab, a 'harlot' from Jericho (the city famed for its impenetrable walls; pre-Israelite invasion, of course). The book of Joshua explicitly details the way in which Rahab, a prostitute by profession, is able to save herself, her family, and all those connected to her.

Joshua 2:15 "Then she let them down by a rope through a window, since she lived in a house that was BUILT INTO THE WALL of the city."

The translation of the original Hebrew text gives us synonyms like 'in, among, with, upon' for the word 'into' (b in hebrew).

Now you might be wondering why this is important... I would encourage you to read the verse again and again till it sinks in. Rahab lived IN a wall! I have never, in this vast universe, heard or read of a house/residence being INSIDE a wall!! Let us not forget the fact that this is not just any wall, but the Jericho wall; the impenetrable, famed structure which made its inhabitants invincible to their enemies (at least, till Joshua and the Israelites came along).

There are several lessons from just this verse and I am sure many more can be drawn after a thorough examination. What I want to share with you today, are certain facts I unearthed:

where Rahab lived was the most fortified city in the whole of the Old Testament
Her home was in the actual wall, that very thing that scared everyone and made Jericho famous throughout the land (Joshua 2:15)
Her window was, arguably, the most important structural space in the whole city, with a peripheral view of the world outside (Joshua 2:18)
The spies from Israel were able to escape because they were hidden in Rahab's house (Joshua 2:4).

Why is this verse important? Well, I've learned from this one very important sentence that

God will use just about anyone to bring His plans to fruition. Rahab was not the holiest lady in the city of Jericho. As a matter of fact, she might not have made the list of top ten lady contenders to help God's children. But praise be to the Holy God of Israel, who does not look at outward appearances or circumstances. Rahab was 'lowly' and not regarded as her career did not garner any respect, but God used her anyway. He used her (to save the spies), blessed her (she did not die with her people and is part of Jesus' descendants) and made her a blessing to her entire family and those connected to her (their lives were spared because of her).
The position of her home was critical to the victory of the Israelites over Jericho, and the succession of her bloodline which eventually birthed our Savior, Jesus Christ. A lot of people often cry out to God to change their situations or make things better for them. Rahab lived in a wall, guys! It does not get any degrading or sadder than that. She and her family would have been the first to be killed in any siege. Living in the wall also meant living on the outskirts of the city; a sure indication of of her social status. Rahab gave a new definition to perimeter as she lived in the structure that served as a signifier of Jericho's boundary line. Looking closely at the text in Joshua 6:22, He (Joshua) asked the men who Rahab hid to "go to her HOME and retrieve her and everyone with her." This struck me as strange since the wall had already been grazed to the ground by the mighty hand of Jehovah, through the singing and shouting of the Israelites (Joshua 6:20). Please help me understand how a home in a wall is not destroyed, when the wall is in ruins. As they say, 'na only God oo.' The Father, knowing Rahab's good works, preserved her home during the destruction. Rahab and her family were retrieved, I am sure, from the rubble. The Bible never mentioned any scar or wound from the collapse of the wall. God did this, as He always does, for His glory. So the spies might not attribute Rahab's salvation to their mercies but to the grace of the Almighty God. She and her family could have died during the collapse of the wall but she was preserved wholly. Honestly, this excites me and gives me comfort that it does not matter the chaos, issues or trouble, because the Lord will preserve His own, we only just have to believe.
Rahab being in the wall was critical to Israel's victory as it gave her knowledge and insight to the battle strategies of the Jericho soldiers/army. She was able to give the spies specific details about the hiding places and timing of the Jericho soldiers (Joshua 2:4-7). Let me explain, when the King was looking for the spies, he sent word to Rahab because he had been informed she was hiding them. Instead of outing the spies, Rahab told a blatantly lied and gave wrong information to the messengers. Now, I think if Rahab lived smack in the middle of the city, her word would have been open to doubt. Why? Because no one would believe a lady whose location does not afford her the knowledge of those coming in or going out of the city gates. But she who lives in the wall of the city with a WINDOW through the wall certainly sees and knows all. She is also able to see that which goes on outside the gates of the city. This position, therefore, made Rahab's word, credible. She was, in addition, in the perfect position to provide the ideal logistics to the Israelite spies to evade the Jericho soldiers looking for them (Joshua 2:16). She therefore saved the Israelites just by living in the wall. Would you look at that? The power of being in a wall, what some might consider the worst of situations.
The Bible tells us not to despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). To me, Rahab was more powerful and knowledgeable than the King of Jericho himself. Her location in the city afforded her privileges she might not have even realised till the spies came along. Let us be encouraged that where we are at any given moment, is exactly where God wants us to be, for that which He wants to do. The issue we tend to have is that we want God to put us in the best situations or positions in our eyes. But sometimes, He needs you to be a 'Rahab' so the 'Israelites' A.K.A. 'other people' can fulfill their destiny. Where you are might not necessarily be thrilling or heartening to you, but it is somebody's lifeline, my dear friends. You are about to save someone, or, maybe a family, a company, a ministry, a nation... or maybe, just maybe, you could be saving YOURSELF! If Rahab's life was preserved so we could have the world's Saviour and Master; surely, your present position could only lead to a greater good. Don't be discouraged my friends, where you are qualifies you in God's eyes...