Reflection #3 Jericho (Overcoming Temptation, Gaining Victory and Grace)
On our way to Egypt we visited the town of Jericho in the Palestinian Territories passing by the hills of Judea and Samaria in the Palestinian Territories. It was a pleasant trip and my mind was wondering as I look into the vast desert and hills. I could imagine the kind of life the Israelites had. Reflecting and observing on the physical characteristics of the land helps me recall my Bible stories and help me understands the words and phrases used by the prophets and by the psalms of David. They spoke about the hills and the mountains. "I look into the mountains, from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth." Isn't it wonderful to see the associations of these words with the physical counters of the land where the writers lived?
According to the Bible, Jericho was the first city conquered by the Israelites when they entered Canaan. When the walls of the city collapse under miraculous circumstances, the Children of Israel took the city and put it to the sword, only the family of Rahab was spared because they took in the spies when they were doing espionage work. All the gold and silver where dedicated to the Lord and the Israelites were forbidden from taking the booty. When the conquest was completed, Joshua proclaimed a curse to whoever would attempt to rebuild the city. In Joshua 6:26 we read: "Cursed be the man before the Lord that shall raise up and build the city of Jericho. In his first born may he lay the foundation thereof, and in the last of his children set up its gates." (Rheims-Douay version) It is worthy to note also that it was during the prophet Elijah's time in 1 Kings 16:34 we read: "In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun." (NIV version). It was also worthy to note that this prophecy of Joshua occurred during the time of King Ahab, whose notorious Canaanite wife Jezebel influenced him to lead Israel to apostasy. Is there a message behind these events? It was during Elijah's time that he defeated the priests of Baal and led many in Israel to return to God. Indeed a sad moment in the history of Israel.
In the New Testament we also see Jericho as the place where Zaccheus met Jesus Christ. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Tax collectors are considered by Israelites as traitors because they are collecting taxes for the Roman Empire. They are also considered sinners and unclean because they steal and cheat and most of their wealth are derived from dishonest means. But when Jesus was in Jericho, he said to Zaccheus, "I will dine in your house" (Luke 19:5). This created a stir among the religious leaders because how can Jesus the Rabbi eat at the house of a sinner? Jesus rebut his detractors and said: "Who needs a doctor, the well or the sick? go and ponder on this word. We see how the grace of God worked in the heart of Zacchaeus. As if hypnotised by the grace of Jesus, the man said: "But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold. " (Luke 19:8). Jesus proclaimed the amnesty and said: "Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. " (Luke 19:9).
The grace of God works in marvellous ways. He gives his mercy to whom he wills and he works not as human but the mercy of God can reach even the most impossible spot on this earth.
As I look and take a glance of Jericho, smell its air and feel its presence, though today a Palestinian city, I am reminded of the Old Jericho, I could imagine Jesus and Zachaeus, I could do nothing but admire and wonder at the mercy of God. Beyond shopping for dates and other souvenirs Jericho is a monument to God's grace and mercy.
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| Modern Day Highway to Jericho. |
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| Modern Day Jericho in the West Bank, Palestinian Territory |
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| The Mountain of Temptation. Said to be where the devil tempted Christ when he fasted forty days and forty nights in the desert. |
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| The Oldest Town in the World. In the Old Testament, Joshua and Caleb and the Armies of Israel encirlcled the town 7 times and the walls of Jericho fell. Joshua made a curse that whoever will rebuilt the City of Jericho, the first born of that man would die. |
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| A Sycamore Tree in the Modern Town of Jericho. It was said that when Jesus visited the town of Jericho, Zachaeus the tax collector climb up the sycamore tree in order to see Jesus. Zachaeus was a short man. |
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| The deserts in Jericho. But ironically Jericho produces one of the best and sweetest dates in Palestine. |
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