“Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!” spoke Joshua as the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Jericho, a mere 16 miles outside of Jerusalem, the oldest continually occupied city on earth (since the 10th millennium BCE) is found smack dab in the midst of the West Bank today. After my first trip to Arabic territory, I had this anticipation building inside of me. I quite honestly did not realize how close it all was to Jerusalem. It felt different every time we rode into the West Bank, like you had left the 1st world end entered into the 3rd. It looked so much like the streets of my hometown, it blew my mind. I could feel our group get uneasy and uncertain but I wasn’t going to let that damper my elation to be here.
We stopped at the ruins of the ancient city, known as Tell es-Sultan or Tel Jericho, set at the foot of the Mt. Temptation, where Jesus had wandered in the wilderness, tempted by Satan to give in to sin instead of relying on God.
We read the story of Zacchaeus, when Jesus reminds us that His heart was to seek and save the lost. Did you know Zacchaeus means innocent? He had gotten so caught up in his sinful life, labeled an outcast by the people he cared about, that he forgot the identity God has given him. Jesus called him out exclusively before the crowd and chose to dine in his presence, because He did not forget who He called Zacchaeus to be. I know I’ve lost sight of that in my own life often and it was so necessary to be reminded of who God made me to be – a woman whose heart of worship drew others into His presence.
Turning to look at the ruins, we got an idea of the ancient city that once stood there. While there is not much physical evidence of the walls falling down as the story in Joshua tells, excavations have found indications of an earthquake from around that time period. Right across in the valley were orchards and farmland intermixed with housing, as far as you could see, found in the picture at the top. According to our tour guide, Jericho farms the best produce of the Land.
Leaving Jericho, we took a short trip to get our first glimpse of the Jordan River at Kaser Al-Yahud, or “Castle of the Jews” in Arabic. This traditionally has been known as the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, where the Jews cross the Jordan into the Promised Land, and where Elijah ascended to heaven. On the other side is Jordanian territory and they call it, “Al-Maghtas” or “Immersion.” It was really something seeing people getting baptized on both sides of the river, especially since we were surrounded by minefields from the Six Day War from 1967…
After driving behind some sketchy looking greenhouses, we stopped in a field that most likely would’ve been known as the first Gilgal. I say first because we learned that out of the 39 times the place is mentioned in the Bible, this is not the only one. You see, Gilgal or “circle of stones,” was most likely a type of structure, not a set place.
Inside this particular circle of stones, was an altar of rocks, set up as monument. This is what the Bible is talking about when the Israelites were asked to set up a memorial before the Lord in remembrance. It seemed so wild to see this progression, from crossing the Jordan, setting up camp for the first time in the Land, to worshiping until the walls fell down around them as they began to walk into the promise God has given them! We took some time breathing it all in here because it was absolutely beautiful.
I was reminded that in my life, God has moved so miraculously so many times. I know that I had to stop and reflect at my own memorials that I have set up to honor Him in that moment. I stumbled upon a little snail, tucked away in the shade and it might sound silly but I felt the Holy Spirit remind of the way the dye purple is created. You see, in ancient times, purple was highly prized because it took a massive number of snails being either crushed or milked and the color became brighter with weathering. The more the cloth was put through arduous circumstances, the more laborious the conditions, the more the color brilliantly radiated. The ordeals I have gone through could’ve easily given me a victim mentality, which I know I have been guilty of at times, but the adversities I have faced were the vehicle for the blazing fire that irradiated from within me to burst forth. This is my identity, as a seller of purple.
It was absolutely mind-boggling seeing the Word jump off the pages here in the Land. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next!
Personally, I was totally amazed with the agriculture in the Jordan Valley that we saw. And the fruit and dates we had were incredibly delicious. God has blessed that land.
Lydia, I totally understand what you are saying about landmarks in your life. In fact, God tells us in scripture to never forget (or. never ‘move’) the landmarks that he has placed in our lives. Even the painful ones are there for somebody’s benefit. Certainly our benefit, but often the benefit of those around us too.