Can justice flow like rivers in the Middle East today?

Hezekiah is one of my heroes. On Monday, Helen extolled the spiritual virtues that enabled him to bring the People of Judah back to God. But he was more than just a religious leader – he was one of those great all rounders that we find in history. He was also engineer as well as being a visionary leader.

The once mighty River Jordan is little more than a stream once clean water for the region has been extracted

Although described in more detail in 2 Chronicles 32, we find that Hezekiah’s good leadership as attracted the interest of the Assyrians who would like to take over Jerusalem and have it for themselves. In considering his vulnerabilities, he realises not only does he need to rebuild and refurbish the walls of the city, he also needs to secure the city’s water supply.

We are told that he blocked of the springs outside the city and diverted their flow into the city into a tunnel that became known as Hezekiah’s tunnel. He knew that whoever controlled the water supply, increased the chances of winning the inevitable battle that was to come.

I first became aware of Hezekiah’s tunnel when I went to Jerusalem when I was 15 – although on my trip we only saw the entrance. My mum who went a few years later got a chance to go down the tunnel and was amazed at how well constructed it was for something that was almost 3000 years old.

So why was it worth stopping and looking at Hezekiah and his tunnel? Well as always, history has much to teach us about the world today.

Water was power in Hezekiah’s time and nothing has changed in 3000 years. Well nothing other than the fact that more water is needed by more people in the still tiny area that is Israel and the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Gaza strip. Although much of the Israeli expansion of 1967 and 1973 was linked to taking back what they considered to be their rightful land – they were very smart to make sure that took control of the majority of the water supplies for the whole region. Between 1963 and 2003 it is argued by some that there were 21 armed disputes over water and 18 of them involved Israel.

There are three main sources of water in the area – the Sea of Galilee, two underground aquifers and the River Jordan. Although Israel is required by international treaty to share the water with the Palestinians some estimates show that Israel takes 80% of the available supply leaving everyone else with just 20%.

From my remote view it looks like an issue of justice. Justice for all the inhabitants of the region that they should have access to clean, drinking water and it’s removal should not be used as a weapon against the poor.

For much of 2 Kings we have read how the Law was ignored and the people failed to exercise justice and peace in our their dealings with each other. Here we are 3000 years on and the picture looks pretty similar. The Chosen People of God fall short of God’s standard. There is a lack of justice especially in the area of sharing the natural resources of the land.

Many Christians seem to think that the Jewish people being back in Israel is the will of God. Well if it is, and they are the Chosen People, then now is the time justice to flow like rivers. Will the current Jewish leaders be remembered as latter day Hezikiahs or Ahabs?