FULFILMENT OF GOD’S WORD.
By M. E. K.
After the taking of Jericho by Israel, the Lord, by Joshua, declared, “Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho; he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.” Joshua 6:26. Probably the design of the Lord was that this city, which first opposed the progress of Israel, and which the Lord himself delivered into the hands of his people, might lie in ruins as a memorial of his mighty power. Should it be rebuilt, the story of its overthrow would in time be denied, and the lesson be forgotten. Time passed on. The judges reigned for over four hundred years. During that time there was much wickedness and unbelief in Israel, but no one offered to build up Jericho. God’s word deterred them from so doing. So we go on during the time of the kings, until after Israel was divided, and we reach the reign of that most wicked king, Ahab. In his days, under his influence, and the influence of his wicked consort, Jezebel, the words of the Lord were little regarded. We read: “And he [Ahab] reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho; he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” 1 Kings 16:32–34. By comparing the chronology we find that the fulfilment of this word of the Lord spoken by Joshua took place over five hundred years after the words were spoken. This would be a hundred years more time than has elapsed since Columbus discovered America! We do not know whether the words of the Lord were understood by the builder or not; but if they were known, they were not believed. It was a long time since the words were spoken, and what reason was there that the city, in so fine a location, too, should not be rebuilt? They believed in more liberty. It was preposterous that the dead Joshua should bind a man living five hundred years later; and if Ahab could build a temple to Baal, and no harm come to it, or to him, as it then appeared, surely an old city might be safely rebuilt. So Hiel went to work to rebuild Jericho. But a terrible accident occurred. While they were getting the foundations placed, his eldest son was crushed under a mighty boulder. Perhaps some one recollected and repeated the prophecy, pointing out what had occurred as a partial fulfilment; but if it was done, no attention was paid to it. To be sure it was a very curious coincidence, and a very credulous person might imagine that he saw in it a fulfilment of prophecy; but it was remarked that accidents just like that often happened when there was no prophecy at all! So the work was resumed, the workmen being cautioned to be very careful. All went on well until the very last moment. The city was built and the wall enclosed it; only one more thing was to be done,—the heavy gates, already made, were to be raised and hung upon their hinges. Segub, the youngest son of Hiel, was helping in this work. But there was a miscalculation; a prop slipped, the great gate, partially erected, swung round, the workmen lost control of it, and it fell heavily to the earth. Was any one hurt? In their excitement they hardly knew at first. But some one had heard a smothered shriek, and instantly a hundred men grasped one side of the great gate, and raised it from the ground, while others looked under it. There, under the gate, with his life crushed out of him, lay Segub, the youngest son of Hiel; and the word of the Lord, by Joshua, spoken five hundred years before, was fulfilled to the letter! Did they believe it then? We are not told. Probably, as is always the case, some believed, and others did not. The sin of unbelief is so deceitful, that when we once give it a place in the heart, it grows to immense proportions. The only safe course to pursue is to believe that all the words of the Lord are true; that his word spoken in reference to what he will bring upon nations, and upon the world in our day, will be accurately fulfilled, tho spoken hundreds of years ago. Men live and die, the centuries come and go, but God’s word abides forever. Happy is he who takes that word for what it is, the word of God, and believes it. M. E. K.