VICTORY VALLEYS (Part II)

Victory Valleys (Part II)

“What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Baca, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God” (Psalm 84:5-7).

The Valley of Baca: In Hebrew, “Baca” means “weeping.”

Technically, there is no specific valley known as Baca, although there is a large area of many valleys that has that name.  And, it is through this area that many made pilgrimages to the Temple to worship God.   However, Baca means “weeping,” and was probably more indicative of a time of sorrow or suffering on our journey to find God in our lives.

If you are walking through a valley like the Valley of Baca, (or the Valley of Achor), then make sure your spiritual journey leads you to Christ and not in another direction.  In fact, verses 6 and 7 say that those who walk through this valley “will make it a place of springs, and the autumn rains will cover it with blessings!” And all of us are familiar with Psalm 24 that says “though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” God is with you!

God will always open doors for us as we walk in His ways…as we walk in the light.  He will give us all that we need to walk though our valleys of sorrows or troubles, but…WE MUST DO THE WALKING!  “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act!  Keep traveling steadily along His pathway and in due season He will honor you with every blessing” (Psalm 37:34).

VICTORY VALLEYS (Part I)

“And there I will give Israel vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope” (Hosea 2:14-15).

The Valley of Achor

In Hebrew, “Achor” means “trouble.”

In Joshua 6:17-26, the Lord spoke to Joshua to tell the soldiers before the battle not to keep “the things that were devoted to destruction, otherwise you will bring trouble upon the camp of Israel, including the silver and Gold.”  Unfortunately, a soldier named Achan, kept several items and hid them in his tent. As a result, sin entered the camp and the Israelites lost a minor battle; Achan and all his family and animals were stoned; they buried them in a place they called the Valley of Achor and God’s anger was lifted. In verse 26, it says, “Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor,” because in verse 25, Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.”

In the Book of Hosea, it was an extremely significant statement where God says He would make the “Valley of Achor a door of hope.” The Israelites deserved death because of their blatant sins of immorality, idolatry, and hardened hearts…they deserved “trouble!”  And the same way, we deserve death because of our sins. However, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has brought not only forgiveness of sins, HE has given us the eternal HOPE of everlasting life!  In spite of the valleys of trouble we are going through, Jesus promises that He would be with us wherever we go, delivering us, and taking us to a place of hope! 

Having the conviction that God answers prayer will minister to us during difficult times. God promises to make your "valley of trouble" a door of HOPE! AMEN!

“In the day of trouble, I will call to You and You will answer” (Psalm 86:7).