An interesting note in Joshua 18: Shiloh is where the tent of meeting is now set up, and in the notes below it said the tabernacle would remain there for about 300 years through the time of the judges. That’s longer than our country has existed.

Now the tribe of Benjamin receives its allotment and within its borders is mentioned the Hinnom Valley. Again in the notes below: the Valley of Ben Hinnom became associated with the worship of Molek ( the Ammonite god) in Jeremiah’s time. These terrible rites involved the sacrifice of children. Later the valley was used for burning garbage and the corpses of criminals and animals. Thus the name became a synonym for hell.

Remember God wanting them to completely drive out the nations? Any wonder why?

Contrast the worship of false gods imagined in the hearts and minds of humans that would kill their own children in fire, so much so, that the place became synonymous with our “imaginations” of hell which leads us to fear. Fear that inevitably leads us away from God. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:16-18.

My granddaughter was afraid to go to sleep last weekend while we were babysitting her and her brother. “There are monsters,” she said. I told her there are no monsters, but sadly, there are. There are people who do monstrous things we hear about every day on the news; people became that for their own children worshipping in fear what their own minds conceived. Hell.

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourself from idols. 1 John 5:20-21.

God’s perfect love drives out fear because God is love. One day everyone who ever lived in ignorance of that truth will have the opportunity to experience God’s love, and I pray no one’s imagination of hell will for them limit God’s perfect, healing, redeeming love for all. Fear is imperfect. God’s love is perfect and will drive out fear. How? For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:11.

Faith, hope, love…gifts from our loving God. Let them be your companions as you go through your day. As you notice the beauty He created and surrounded us with, remember the lessons in gardens. What springs forth from the ground shows so beautifully the promises of God’s perfect love. In Him is the joy of love your heart and soul long for. He is here. Believe Him.