It Starts Small

Israel was a land full of hills and valleys. When shepherds would lead their their sheep to green pastures, they had to pass through valleys. In Hebrew, the valleys were called wadis and where considered dangerous places. They were normally dry river beds. During the rainy months, it would rain and the valleys would fill up with water quickly. We know them as flash floods. Anyone caught in the bed of a valley would be swept away to their death.

Valleys were also dark places. Literally dark in the middle of the day. The sun would be hidden by the high cliffs. The Hebrew word for shadow of the valley means a place of deep darkness or the place of a death shadow. Within these valleys were many dangers: wild animals and criminals. These place could be fearful. We become very conscience of God in the valley.

² When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you,
and the rivers will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be scorched,
and the flame will not burn you.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.
I have given Egypt as a ransom for you,
Cush and Seba in your place.

Isaiah 43:2-3

For shepherds, valleys were inevitable. There was no safe way around them, except to go through them. Many times when we read this passage we assume this is the valley of death, but this is not true. This is the valley of the storms in our lives. The temptations. The tests and trials. As we encounter them, we walk through dark places, but we are not alone. We have our Good Shepherd to lead the way and to be a light in the darkness.