The Valley of Blessings

Philosophy View of blessings

Something that you have or something that happens which is good because it improves your life, helps you in some way, or makes you happy.

Biblical View of blessings

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14 KJV

Beracah is a valley mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). It was named the “Valley of Blessings (“blessing” is “Berakhah” in Hebrew) by Jehoshaphat, king of Judah after God’s victory over Moab and Ammon, as is recounted in the Second book of Chronicles.

Most parents would wish for their children’s lives nothing less than a “valley blessing” a pleasant life of peace and joy. It is said that parents live on in the lives of their children and while it cannot be guaranteed, godly upbringing usually results in godly offspring. “The Apple” as the saying goes “never falls far from the tree”!

Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi, was the wife of the King Asha of Judah.(1st Kings 22:42-43). King Asa had a long and good reign. For forty- one years, Judah prospered under him while Israel languished under a series of wicked Kings, including King Ahab. Azubah was the mother of Jehoshaphat, who also stands out, despite some lapses as a good King. The Bible tells us that Jehoshaphat followed his father’s example, but the mention of his mother suggests that her godly character may have influenced her son as well. Some of Israel’s rulers are mentioned in history with statements in their genealogies that includes their mothers, examples can be seen in the following bible verses 2nd Chronicles 24 :1, 25 :1,26:3, 1st Kings 22:42-43.

Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord: nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. 1st Kings 22:42-43 KJV

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Chron 24:1 KJV

Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2nd Chron25:1 KJV

Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

2nd Chron 26:3KJV

We often wished that through all of our life experiences and different challenges that our journey to the Kingdom would be easier. The walk to the Kingdom is filled with hills and valleys that we are going to encounter. When we are down in the valleys, the low points, we tend to think negatively. There we feel discouraged and consumed with our problems. We may think as soon as I get out of this situation then I can be happy and thankful, then I can be grateful and have a positive outlook. But in what appears to be total contradiction, scripture doesn’t talk about valleys of defeat and negativity, it talks about a Valley of Blessing.

God makes it clear he won’t prevent us from going go thru the valleys, instead He promises I MAY LEAD YOU THERE, BUT I WILL BLESS YOU THERE. He’s more focused on delivering us in the valley than delivering us from the valley 2nd Chronicles 20 is a beautiful story of how God delivered Jehoshaphat from his enemies

when Jehoshaphat came to the throne, he had good reason to make his godly heritage his own. Faced with overwhelming odds. According to 2nd Chron 20: 2 he was encouraged by Jahaziel, a Levite. I can imagine Jahaziel would speak words of authority like “listen King Jehoshaphat do not be afraid, do not be discouraged by the mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but Gods”. Whatever battle we are facing in our daily lives remember we are not on our own, hand it over to the Lord and watch him work mighty wounders for us. God is saying to us today, don’t lose your peace and your hope, it’s not your battle, it’s my battle. The King marched to the battle singing praises to the Lord and on the way, he stopped to encourage his people “listen to me all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm”.

Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, there cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi 2nd Chron 20:20 KJV

A great victory was won that day without the army having to fight at all, then the people gathered to praise and thank God in a valley that they named the Valley of Blessings, Azubah would have been proud of her son. May we who are mothers take courage and try to help our children catch the heartbeat of our faith. If they make that faith their own. One day they too will overcome the evil forces against them and find themselves with their feet firmly planted in the valley of blessing. We see that the Lord answered Jehoshaphat by Jahaziel, who was the son of Zechariah.

Conclusion

The sign of his victory is evident when we look at the details of his crucifixion. When it was time for him to be offered up, they forced him to carry his cross and crucified him on a hill outside of Jerusalem. We see that Jesus transformed his valley into a mountain of victory, what everyone thought was the worst scene of defeat they could ever witness was actually the greatest victory of “valley of blessing” that this world could ever know, he turned the deepest point of suffering into the highest point of submission.

Glory be to God for “valley of blessing”.