A Wilderness, a Place, a Gateway
Jehovah Maqom and the Valley of Achor (Trouble)
Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.—Joshua 7:25
The Valley of Achor is mentioned five times in the Bible, beginning in Joshua 7. It was a dark episode in Israel's history. Although God had given Israel the Promised Land, they had to expel enemies. They would only succeed if they kept faith with God and His covenant with them.
The first failure came at Ai, when Israel’s enemies overcame them. What went wrong? More accurately, who went wrong?
Trouble
A man named Achan went rogue. He broke the covenant with God when he stole some of the plunder devoted to God, inciting God to anger. The Hebrews felt the consequences of Achan’s breach—a humiliating defeat and the death of thirty six men. As God revealed the cause and culprit of the humiliation, He also decreed the punishment necessary to close the breach and restore the covenant. Joshua and the community acted immediately.
Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since. Joshua 7:25–26
“Achor” means trouble. A harsh turn of events, almost incomprehensible to our modern sensibilities, but revelatory in how seriously He takes the covenant He has made with us—which includes protection. He cannot protect His bride when His bride steps out and sleeps with another. And He doesn’t want the children to suffer too with a breach.
Did God consider the deaths that followed worth the price of protecting more lives? Apparently. Because we next find Achor in the prophets.
A Door of Hope
In Hosea 2:13-18, the Lord says,
Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will . . . make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
What hope do we have in the wilderness?
Hope of reconciliation. Even in Israel’s dark days, repeatedly breaking covenant, God sought reconciliation and restoration.
Hope of covenantal protection. As we honor the covenant, God hides and shelters us under His wing (Psalm 91).
Hope for nourishment (Revelation 12:6).
Hope of God’s healing bitter waters (Exodus 15:22–26).
Hope of God’s provision—He will satisfy our hunger and thirst in the wilderness (Elijah, 1 Kings 17:2–6).
Hope for wisdom—all that is needed (James 1:5).
Hope of a dwelling place, prepared by God in which we can dwell in peace
We will survive. We can even thrive. As we hold faith with God, He leads us out of trouble to a door of hope.
Scriptures:
Revelation 12:6
Hosea 2:15
Joshua 7
Isaiah 65:10; 33:9; 35:1-2