Elah & Baca

Psalm 126:⁶ “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (NKJV).

The first of the four guaranteed valleys is The Valley of Siddim. The Valley of Siddim is the Valley of failure. The second Valley is The Valley of Eshcol. The Valley of Eshcol is the Valley of Fear, of intimidation, of inferiority complex. The third is The Valley of Elah. Please read 1Samuel 17:1-58, it is a beautiful story. 1Samuel 17:^2-3 “Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.” The Valley of Elah is the Valley of Conflict, where you face a giant challenge. The giant, Goliath came down consistently to taunt the people of Israel, to taunt God’s people. You may be reading this today and you have giant situations in your face that are challenging you, challenging your God even now. They will all fall in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

Elah is the valley of conflict. What is your Elah, your valley of conflict even right now? “The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley of Elah between them.” (1 Samuel 17:3, paraphrased). For some, this is what describes your marriage right now. You are on one hill, your spouse is on another hill, and there is a valley of conflict in between you. I pray in the Name of Jesus that God Himself will step in. Just as God through David stepped in and took down the Goliath in the Valley of Elah. God will step in, empower you, and knock down that Goliath in the Valley of Elah in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

The fourth of the inevitable, guaranteed valleys that everybody has to deal with is The Valley of Baca. Psalm 84:^5-6a “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca...” (NKJV, emphasis added). Baca in Hebrew means weeping, to weep. The valley of Baca is the valley of weeping. Baca was a desert place, and it was a physical valley, a dry, dusty, arid, wasteland. People traveling from other countries to Jerusalem on pilgrimage needed to go through the Valley of Baca, through the valley of Weeping. Baca is a challenging place to pass through, but because they were seeking God, they had to pass through inevitably. The truth is that sometimes because we are seeking God, some challenges come our way. Baca is the valley of grief and barrenness, I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, for everyone passing through the Valley of Baca, the valley of grief and barrenness, that God will bring joy and fruitfulness into your life, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, even when I encounter valleys in life, I will not be afraid because You are with me. Your rod and staff guide and protect me, in Jesus Name. Amen!