For those of us who have traveled to Ghana or The Republic of Benin through The Nigeria –Benin border at Seme, one of the things that is truly striking is the amount of commerce that takes place there. Another thing that is striking is the number of custom officials, police, Vehicle Inspection Officers, mobile police, NDLEA, military, para-military and other governmental security agencies that have their posts at the border. Any keen observer will easily see the amount of money that exchanges hands as travelers and traders strive to ensure that their goods and properties successfully make their way through the border. Little wonder for some of these agencies, being posted to such border posts is like winning lottery ticket.

Zacchaeus, whose name means clean, was a tax collector in a similar economically vibrant custom post in Jericho. Thus, he was a man of great wealth and power. His wealth sprang from the fact that he was a “senior tax collector” in the economically vibrant city of Jericho (place of fragrance) which produced and exported balsam in large quantities. Though his name meant “clean”, he engaged in so many dirty practices. Zacchaeus had many of the things many lose sleepless nights wanting to possess today, yet his heart remained restless and yearned for something deeper.