DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- VALLEY OF BERACHAH

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE VALLEY OF BERACHAH

"And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him (Jehoshaphat), and said to the king, 'Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you. Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God.' " (II Chronicles 19:2-3)

I can readily identify with Jehoshaphat. He did some good things in his life – like removing the wooden images from the land, and he had a heart to seek God. The record says that "he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD" (20:32). Jehoshaphat found favor with God because he sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and "his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD" (II Chronicles 17:3-6).

But Jehoshaphat also made some bad choices, like making an alliance with wicked King Ahab of Israel (chapter 18). And later on he made an alliance with Ahab's son, Ahaziah, who was wicked like his father. And although he destroyed the wooden images, he did not destroy the high places of false worship, perhaps because he feared the people who had "not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers" (20:33).

The record does not tell of any indication of the "wrath of God" that Jehu predicted, except perhaps destroying some ships that Jehoshaphat had had built in an alliance with Ahaziah, an evil king of Israel (20:35-37). But it does talk about God's blessing on Jehoshaphat. God blessed Jehoshaphat with victory over the enemies of Judah – like Ammon, Moab, and Mt. Seir, and God gave Judah rest from their adversaries. The people celebrated God's blessing in the valley of Berachah, which means blessing, "for there they blessed the LORD" (20:26).

I think we are probably all a mixed bag. I know that I love the Lord and want to serve him, but I am human and make wrong choices. I am so glad for God's mercy and grace that keeps the "wrath of God" from destroying me. As Jeremiah the prophet opined in Lamentations 3:22, "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not." I live in the Valley of Berachah – the Valley of Blessing – and I bless the Lord for His unfailing love and mercy and kindness to me, even though I do not do everything perfectly. The LORD's favor and blessing rest on everyone who, like Jehoshaphat, seeks God, walks in His commandments, and delights in His ways. That is the place of God's Blessing.

Love, Dad