14 August 2020

Achor: The Valley of Troubles

The word Achor means “trouble,” and so, with a slight variation of Achan’s name, Joshua asked him, “Why have you troubled us?” After Achan’s execution, the valley where he died took on the name “Valley of Achor.”

Joshua 7:25 (NIV) “Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

1 Chronicles 2:7 (LB) “Achan, the son of Carmi, was the man who robbed God and was such a troublemaker for his nation.”

Hosea spoke of the valley as a future “door of hope” and a place for joyful singing.

Hosea 2:15 (NLT) “I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.”

Isaiah 65:10 (ESV) “Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.”

God can change your trouble into hope.

Romans 5:3-5 (Moffatt) “We triumph even in our troubles, knowing that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope — a hope which never disappoints us, since God’s love floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”

Achor means "trouble" and the "door of hope" isn't just wishful thinking. It is a positive expectation. This means that hope wraps itself around the faithful in the valley of trouble and pulls them through their trouble, to a place of triumph. So, when trouble comes, look ahead for the victory.

Psalm 55:22 (GNT) “Leave your troubles with the Lord, and he will defend you; he never lets honest people be defeated”

“People get into trouble when they look to others to solve their problems. God is our problem solver.” ― Charles F. Stanley.

When problems are so big and your strength is no longer enough to carry them, don't give up! Because, where your strength ends, The Grace of GOD begins!