Rahab
The Independent Planner
- Practical
- Organised
- Reserved
- Independent
Rahabs work out where they stand and make a plan they can act on. Rahab gave the spies clear instructions for hiding in the hills, then tied the agreed scarlet cord in her window.
An illustrative Big Five pattern. Further out means a stronger tendency; emotional balance varies from person to person.
They finish what they start and think before they speak.
They plan the practical steps and get them done without fuss. Once they have made up their minds, a group will not easily change them.
Strengths
What actually works
They trust what has been tested and proven. Checking the practical details can help them spot what a plan still needs.
Clear, simple plans
They give clear steps: where to go, how long to wait, what happens next. Checking that others understand gives those steps a better chance of helping.
They think first
They take time to work things out before speaking. When they share a view, it has been thought through.
They decide for themselves
They weigh up what they have seen and heard and reach their own view. They hold to it, even when the people around them think differently.
Watch-outs
You may focus on every small change to a plan
Clear plans work best when everyone follows them, and not everyone will. Send one friendly reminder, then let the small slips go.
You may make a big decision without another view
Because you trust your own judgement, you may decide something big without asking anyone. Talk it through with one person you trust before you act.
You may make plans without telling others
You may do a lot of planning in your head before anyone knows. Share the plan early so others can help.
Rahab as a friend
As friends, Rahabs often value clear arrangements and space to reach their own view. They may prefer a small circle where commitments mean something.
Friends who say what they can offer and give early notice of changes can make planning together easier.
What helps them feel close
- Friends who say clearly what they will do, then do it.
- People who respect their decisions, even when they would have chosen differently.
- A heads-up when plans change, so they can adjust.
In everyday life
Youth group
On a team or at youth group, they know the plan and who is doing what. They listen first, then decide for themselves what they think of an idea.
School
They may prefer knowing the steps and deadlines before beginning. Checking an answer themselves can be useful, while leaving room to ask for help.
Faith
God knows their whole story and loves them as they are. In Jesus there is always room for them.
What would it look like to include others in a plan for safety?
When the king of Jericho ordered Rahab to bring out the two Israelite spies, she did not hand them over. She had come to her own conclusion that their God is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
She gave the men a clear plan, to hide in the hills for three days, and once they had gone she tied the scarlet cord in her window, the sign they had agreed.