ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tokonaki Ma’asi 27, 2021

I will not go up among you

‘e ‘ikai te u ‘alu hake au ‘i ho lotolotonga

 ‘Ekisoto 33 (Exodus 33)

 (v. 3) Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

 (v. 3) ‘o a‘u ki he fonua ‘oku mahutafea ‘i he hu‘akau mo e honi: ka ‘e ‘ikai te u ‘alu hake au ‘i ho lotolotonga, he ko e kakai kia kekeva koe; na‘a ‘iloange te u faka‘auha koe ‘i he hala.

 *Commentary:  David Guzik, Study notes on Exodus*

 God did say He would deny Israel His presence, or at least the near sense of His presence. We might say that God said, “I won’t stay so close to you, because I might judge you along the way – but go on and take the Promised Land.”

 This was a challenge to Moses and the nation as a whole. God told them they could have the Promised Land, but He would not remain with them in a close, personal way. If they were satisfied with that arrangement, it would prove they only loved God’s blessings and not God Himself. If they challenged God – pleading with Him for His presence, not only His blessings – it would show a genuine heart for God Himself. This was the first step towards spiritual restoration and revival in Israel.

 “To be given every other blessing is of no value if God is not with you. What is the value of Canaan? What is the value of milk and honey? What is the value of having possessions, if God was not with them? They saw that the realization of the presence of God, having this fellowship and company, was infinitely more important than everything else.” (Lloyd-Jones)

 *Tohi Vete:  Lesoni Ako Tohitapu ‘a Tevita Kuisaki*

 Na’e tomu’a tala pe ‘e he ‘Otua ‘e ‘ikai fononga ia mo e kakai ‘Isileli, ‘e ‘ikai ke ofi kiate kinautolu hono lotolotonga.  ‘E malava pe ketau pehe, na’e folofola mai ‘a e ‘Otua, “’e ‘ikai te u ofi atu kiate kimoutolu, na’a faifaiange kuo fakamaau’i tautea kimoutolu – ka mou hiki ‘o fononga atu ki he fonua ‘o e tala’ofa.”

 Ko e kavenga ‘eni na’e mamafa kia Mosese mo e pule’anga ‘Isileli.  Na’e folofola ange ‘a e ‘Otua te nau ma’u ‘a e fonua ‘o e tala’ofa, ka ‘e ‘ikai te ne feohi vāofi mo kinautolu.  Kapau na’a nau tali fiemālie ‘a e fokotu’utu’u ko ‘eni, na’e mahino leva na’a nau ‘ofa pe ki he ‘Otua koe’uhi ko ‘ene ngaahi tapuaki´, ‘o ‘ikai koe’uhi ko ‘ene ‘Afio.  Pea kapau te nau kole fakamaatoato ki he ‘Otua ke hifo ke nau feohi, ‘o ‘ikai ko ‘ene tuku mai pe ‘a ‘ene ngaahi tapuaki, te nau fakahaa’i ‘enau vivili mo’oni ki he ‘Otua.  Ko e sitepu ‘uluaki ‘eni ke fakafo’ou fakalaumālie mo e fakaakeake ki he pule’anga ‘Isileli.

 Ko hono foaki kotoa mai ‘o e ngaahi tapuaki´, ‘e koto kulanoa kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ki ai ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko e ha hono mahu’inga ‘o Kenani?  Ko e ha hono mahu’inga ‘o e hu’akau mo e honi?  Ko e ha hono mahu’inga ‘o e ma’u ‘o e ngaahi koloa, kapau na’e ‘ikai ke ‘iate kinautolu ‘a e ‘Otua?  Na’a nau fakatokanga’i ko ‘enau ma’u ‘a e lotolotonga ‘o e ‘Otua (ma’u hono fofonga), feohi mo fononga fakataha mo Ia, na’e mahu’inga ‘ānoa ia ‘i ha toe me’a.