The Valley Syndrome

THE VALLEY SYNDROME

Deu 11:8 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;

Deu 11:9 And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Deu 11:10 For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:

Deu 11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:

Geography plays a huge part in Bible history and the experiences of God’s people. We know about cities, countries, provinces, borders, kingdoms and specific points like wells, rocks and woods that all had names to signify important events in Bible history.

There is another phase of geography that we call topography. Architects and builders know about this. Before a large building project gets underway, a set of drawings are usually called for that survey the tracts of land where the building is going to take place. Surveyors measure the rise and fall of the land, and take note of the features that will enter into the building placement or even the kind of building that can be built.

This topography feature is noted in the Bible. We read of seas, rivers, brooks, mountains, hills, valleys, plains, caves and deserts. Many familiar names and stories happened in connection with a particular topographical feature. Jacob went over the Brook Jabbok where he had his dream. Moses went up to Mt. Sinai to receive the ten commandments. Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses on a hill in Rephidim so Israel could prevail against the enemy Amalek. Lot chose the well-watered plains of Jordan . Elijah sought refuge in a cave where God fed him by sending ravens with food. Moses fled to the backside of the desert to keep the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro.

It can be argued that the place where these events occurred had a definite effect on whatever happened there. Life does not happen as a series of random events that make no sense. The reason God leads us to certain places is because we will learn something there…we will learn something because of the very circumstances surrounding the event.

M. Scott Peck begins his The Road Less Traveled with these profound words, “Life is difficult.” It will never get easy. Your guiding light must remain your faith in God and your commitment to lead your people into their best future.

The Valley

Most of us have a built-in bias for mountains and hills. We like to get up high where we can see what’s happening. We like the feeling of superiority, the sense of being in charge, the security of looking down on life and knowing what’s going on. We get that when we are on the mountain top.

The fact is, however, we seldom learn much on the mountain top. That’s why the bible describes the promised land as land of hills and valleys. There is a hill for every valley, but there is a valley for every hill. The valleys are as much a part of the topography of the promised land as the hills.

Achan was judged in the valley. “ And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor f, unto this day.

After the victory at Jericho , Israel was defeated by the men of Ai in the valley.

Hell, or in the Hebrew language, Sheol, was symbolized by the Valley of Hinnom . All the carcasses of Jerusalem were burned in the Valley of Hinnom .

David spoke of the valley as a place of deep trial and testing.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in greena pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me