The Valley of Achor

“And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:15.

The book of Hosea represents the account of His marriage to an adulterous wife that symbolizes Israel’s spiritual adultery from God. Israel’s continuous backsliding and idolatry is outlined with the coming judgment and separation from God if she refused to repent.

God’s love is amazing and unconditional. Even in the midst of Israel’s apostasy, God provided the spiritual attraction and pathway back to Him. Hosea 2:15 state “And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.”

The Valley of Achor was the placed that Achan was stoned to death with his family for stealing and hiding the items from Jericho that were forbidden by the Lord. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” Joshua 7:1.

Its name meant trouble or troubler, but God promised Israel that this same forsaken and troubled valley would be turned into a door of hope and a symbol of God’s mercy. “And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Hosea 2:23.

In our search for answers in this present pandemic and the ills of this world; we must take a good look at the plight of man. Men have become outright immoral and have no shame or desire to repent from the sins and disobedience against the word of God. As Israel’s apostasy in the book of Hosea; have we so easily forgotten that all of our sustenance and gain come from the Lord?

Let us be reminded that just as God has given all that we, He can also take it away. So, we are in a place at this time where economic, educational, or political status is worth absolutely nothing in order to buy the peace, joy, and love that the world stands in need of; man must and will recognize that God is sovereign and has divine providence.

The bible admonishes us “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14… the answer is clear, our nation and nations all over this world must repent and turn back to God. He is faithful and loving. He will heal our land if we return to Him.

As born-again believers, let us proclaim and spread the gospel so that all men will be able to see the light of God. He is able to change the repentant heart and wash away our sins through the precious atoning blood shed on the cross by of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A change is coming…God is victorious, and He wins!

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