The old man shuffled across the dirt floor of his modest stone dwelling. He took a date from the handful he had been carrying and offered it to Jake.
Jake took the fruit and was surprised at how sweet it tasted.
Levi ate a date himself and then stood at his entryway. He looked out at the city as he spoke.
“Ka’nah was known as a gibbor, one of great might. Like the great fortress walls you see outside that make up our city, young Ka’nah spoke powerful words to the people and made them believe he was some sort of messiah.”
Jake couldn’t believe what was happening to him. He wondered what was happening back at camp. He was a little freaked out that he was somehow experiencing this old Bible story, but he felt comfortable here in Jericho nonetheless.
“Would you like another date?” Levi was still facing out toward the city.
Jake didn’t want to be rude, but he really would be okay if he never ate another. “No, thank you.”
Now Levi turned around to face his guest. “Ka’nah’s parents were poor. They always had to work hard to afford even the smallest meal, and then they became very sick and passed away. This forced Ka’nah to live on the streets. He somehow found enough food to survive.”
Jake stood and met Levi in the doorway. “I don’t mean to be rude, but your entire city is going to be destroyed. I don’t think we should stay here. We need to find a way to get Dair, and then we need to leave.”
Levi laughed. “Son, nothing’s going to happen to Jericho.” He shuffled out into the sunlight. Jake followed reluctantly. He wondered if it was a bad move coming here to get the man’s help.
“Sir, it’s true. Did you see those people marching around the city earlier today? They’re going to march around it for the next six days. On the seventh day, they’ll march around it seven times and then the people will shout and all these walls are going to fall.”
“You know how ridiculous that sounds, right?”
Jake thought about it from Levi’s perspective. It did sound ridiculous.
“Young man, I saw the people marching, but I also see you. So, what is clear to me is that you’ve been sent to save us from them.”
Jake had to try to convince the guy he was wrong. “Sir—”
“Just Levi.”
“Okay. Levi.”
“Go on.” The old man moved his weathered right hand in a circular motion like Jake had done in science class. Mrs. Myers called it wafting.
“I’m not here to protect you from the people walking around your city. In fact, I have no idea how I got here or why I’m here. The only thing I do know is that those folks are going to march around the walls seven times in a few days….”
Levi lifted both hands.
Jake stopped talking. He used the pause to recall more details from the Jericho story.
“Boy, where are you coming up with these bizarre ideas?”
“The Bible.”
“The what?”
Jake gave a brief description of the Bible and waited for the information to sink in.
“Even though I have never heard of a Bible, it’s disturbing how you claim to know future events.” Levi looked shocked. “Young man, if you’re not here to stop the crowd marching, then maybe you’ve been sent to put an end to Ka’nah.”
Jake closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, Levi had turned to face him. “Sir, uh, I mean, Levi. I really have no idea what I’m doing here. I did feel a connection to Dair. Dair got captured by Ka’nah, and I want to help get him out.”
“Okay,” Levi said. “Let me finish telling you about my old friend and maybe we can come up with a plan to get Dair back.”
Jake listened as his new mentor talked about how Ka’nah went from stealing food to survive to stealing food to thrive. He listened as Levi explained how Ka’nah gathered other street kids to steal for him, eventually giving them part of his growing cache.
“He came to me one night right here and took me to the edge of the city wall. He knew I was poor, and he wanted to help me. I let him for a while, but then I saw how the wealth was changing him. Ka’nah quickly became selfish and arrogant. Soon the joke was, even though our city had an appointed king, everyone knew who the real king was.”
Jake didn’t know how all this was going to help get Dair rescued. He waited patiently as Levi recounted more facts about Ka’nah’s descent into a life of darkness. Then, when Jake was sure the old man would keep talking forever, he stopped and asked a question.
“Young Jake, do you think you have a purpose in life?”
“Uh, I guess.”
“Do you believe you were created for a reason?”
“I don’t know. Back home, I’m nobody. People ignore me. I’m not looking for a pity party, it just doesn’t feel too good.”
“That’s a lot coming from someone as young as yourself. No one is a mistake. Do you understand me?”
Jake raised his eyes, shocked at how animated Levi had become. “Yes, sir. But, like I said, I came to you for help rescuing Dair. After that, I need your help getting out of this city, because in a few days this whole place is going to be destroyed, and I’d rather be far away from here when that happens.”
Levi lifted his hands and put them on either side of Jake’s face. “If this place is going to be destroyed, why bother trying to save Dair?”
“Well, after I save him, I was hoping you could get all three of us out of here before it all falls apart.”
“I’ve got an even better idea. Why don’t we help all the kids escape?”
Jake loved the idea. “Like Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“Okay, it’s late, and you need to sleep. I will stay up and perfect your plan to get you into Ka’nah’s compound. I’ll also think about how we can get all the kids out, and then I’ll show you how to get out of the city.”
“Thank you!”
Jake felt like a new person here in Jericho. Here he had a friend, and here he had a purpose. He held an ounce of worry about not being able to get back to camp, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Here in Jericho, Jake felt like he mattered.
Levi led him to a spot where Jake got down on the floor and put his head on a folded quilt. God, thank You for being with me and giving me a friend. Thank You for Levi. Please help me get Dair. In Jesus’ name.
Trying to go to sleep was hard. Jake was excited that, even though it took coming to this faraway place, he finally felt like he had a purpose. He loved feeling connected to Levi and Dair. He embraced the feeling of not being alone anymore!
He could stay in Jericho forever but knew this place wouldn’t be around too much longer. He hoped for some much-needed sleep and courage to rescue Dair and the others.
He wondered what was going on back at camp. Were the counselors looking for him? Did anyone care? How long had he been gone? Would they have called his parents by now? Was time the same here in Jericho as it was back home? The endless flood of questions filled Jake’s mind, and at last it made him sleepy. At some point, he gave up questioning things and gave in to the weariness that had overtaken his body.
Lord, please watch over me.
Help me get home.
Amen.