On entering the Promised Land: Haftarah Sh’lach Lecha

Joshua 2:1-24

Everybody, it seems, wants to get into this place. It was the goal of the Israelites. Since the year 70, it had been the Jews’ hope to return. During the Crusades, the Christians and Muslims fought over the land, trading ownership frequently. The British coveted it. Modern Middle Eastern nations have pledged to sweep through all the way to the sea, destroying the Jews along the way. And this past week, 700-ish activists, made an attempt to get their cargo into Gaza. What is it about this land?

This week’s Haftarah, from the book of Joshua, tells us about the spies that Joshua sent to Jericho to scout out the land and determine what the prospects were for victory. They meet a woman of ill-repute with a heart of gold named Rahab, who hides the spies and tells them where to go to keep away from Jericho’s forces. Unlike those around her, she does not fear the Israelites, but sees an opportunity to be saved by them. For her help, she and her family are spared the fate of the rest of the city of Jericho.

So, what is it about this land? Everyone has their own reasons for wanting this land. The Israelites are promised the land by God. The Christians came to help out their Byzantine cousins. The Muslims felt that it belonged to them. The British love owning things. Certain modern Middle Eastern nations have a view of a Muslim Middle East that doesn’t include Jews or westerners. And, the 700 activists? They wanted to bring aid to Gaza. Or they wanted to break the Israeli blockade. Or they wanted to prove a point. Or they hate Israel. Or they hate Jews. Or they love Palestinians. Or they wanted to transfer money to purchase weapons. Or they knew that Israel would overreact. Or they wanted publicity. Or any combination of the above.

Either way, they sailed their boats, ready for confrontation, ready to try to make a difference for a cause they believe in, whichever it may be. There is no question that Israeli forces could have done something better advised, like not go at night and not drop down from a helicopter. There is also no question that the activists, who from the looks of their rage in attacking the Israeli forces want peace about as much as they wanted to be boarded by Israelis, could have done something better advised, like allowing the cargo to enter Israel and then be transported to Gaza.*

The flotilla wanted to get to the land. The blockade is a reminder of the walls of Jericho. Some hope that it will come crumbling down, and the world is calling for it. At this point, it seems inevitable that it will at least come down in parts. Others hold firm in their belief that the wall is necessary. Has the wall stopped bombs from falling on Israel? No. But who is to say how many more may have fallen? Has the wall weakened Hamas? Who are you asking?

Is Israel the new Jericho, building walls for her security and hoping they don’t crumble? Israel sends its troops out to attack the spies in one place, but it appears that the real danger and the real enemy are in another place altogether. The real danger is not the crumbling of walls; it is the building of walls between Israel and her allies, few though they may be. The United States is not thrilled and is demanding a new tactic that is not a blockade of Gaza. Turkey, once Israel’s strongest Muslim ally, is enraged and threatening to sever certain diplomatic ties. If Israel is not careful, she will not be the new Jericho, she will become the new Gaza. Who, then, will sail a flotilla to come to her defense?

Israel has offered a two-state solution, but Israel cannot have a terrorist state next door, they say. (Syria and Lebanon, notwithstanding, apparently.) It’s hard to negotiate when no one will sit at the other side of the table. When the Israelites came toward the land of Jericho, the residents trembled in fear, knowing what the Israelites had done to other enemy nations. The Israeli Military used to instill that fear, and used it as a deterrent, but now seems to make a mess out of almost everything that it attempts to do.

It is not boats or commandos or flotillas of aid or helicopters that will solve this. It’s hard to know what, if anything, may. So many of us, these days, feel like the residents of Jericho, fearful of the prospects on the horizon. Hoping for peace, but knowing that the alternative is sure to stick around for a long while. So many of us have lost faith in the peace process after so many starts and stops. So many of us are tired of watching the walls of peace crumble in front of us, on the news. So many of us are tired of the rhetoric and the hatred and the death. Surely all the inhabitants of the land are quaking today, this week, this month, perhaps even a little bit more than usual.

Rockets in the North, Kidnapped Soldiers, The War in Lebanon, Rockets in the South, The War in Gaza, the Flotilla, Not sitting down to talk: all circuits around the walls of peace. How many more until it falls?

The books of Joshua and Judges are filled with warring tribes and conquering of land between ancient enemies. These ancient enemies never stop being so. They fight until one is destroyed. Let us pray that these books become more of a religio-historical document than a prophetic one.

Shabbat Shalom

*although…