READ: Hosea 2:15
“There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor [trouble] a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.”
Hosea is a bizarre Old Testament book that tells the heartbreaking story of a prophet who married a prostitute. Each chapter reads like a scene from a soap opera filled with drama, disgust, and disappointment. There’s a natural temptation to focus on the dysfunctional couple, but that would miss the overarching theme of the book. Hosea’s life is a parable. He put himself through the trouble of an unfaithful marriage in order to illustrate the strained relationship between God and His people. Israel, like an unfaithful partner, broke their covenant with God. The nation had strayed from home like a cheating spouse.
While the first chapter tells the story of Hosea’s struggling relationship, the second chapter is dedicated to the consequences the Israelites will face due to their disobedience. Each verse is a warning, designed to prepare them for destruction. I know this sounds harsh, but this was one of the primary roles of an ancient prophet. They were empowered to provide warnings to the wandering. This wasn’t punishment; it was protection. God wanted them to see that their oncoming pain was preventable.
This section of scripture is certainly scary, but there is assurance towards the end of the chapter. Hosea prophesied, “I will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope” (2:15). Most of us don’t know ancient geography, so let’s take a closer look. Hosea alludes to the Valley of Anchor, which literally translates to the Valley of Trouble. This was the historic site where Achan majorly failed during the siege of Jericho. Ultimately, his family was murdered in this valley. After that incident, it became known as the Valley of Trouble. This eerie landscape was a memorial to a mass murder. It was a reminder of the reality of human suffering. Everyone reading this would have assumed that such a location could never be redeemed.
Hosea said that God was able to redeem and restore the Valley of Achor. With God, transformation is possible. If God can bring hope to such a horrific place, then God can bring hope to the troubles we face. This verse reveals that God can bring hope out of horrific places. The God of Israel is in the business of bringing redemption to affliction.
God’s promises are greater than any pain we may face. God’s kindness is greater than the turbulence. If you feel as though you are in the valley of trouble, God can bring hope. If you feel as though you are surrounded by the dark, God will bring a spark.