ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Pulelulu Ma’asi 1, 2023

Sticking It to Enemies

Me‘atau ko e Va‘akau

EXODUS 4:2-3

THE LORD SAID TO [MOSES], "WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND?" HE SAID, "A STAFF." AND HE SAID, "THROW IT ON THE GROUND." SO HE THREW IT ON THE GROUND, AND IT BECAME A SERPENT, AND MOSES RAN FROM IT.

‘EKISOTO 4:2-3

Pea folofola ‘a Sihova kiate ia, Ko e hā ena ‘i ho nima? Pea ne pehē, Ko e tokotoko. 3 Pea ne folofola mai, Sī ia ki lalo. Pea ne sī ia ki lalo, pea na‘e hoko ia ko e ngata; pea na‘e hola ‘a Mōsese mei ai.

Weird weapons line God's arsenal. In Exodus, his weapon of choice is not a sharp sword or flying spear. Rather, it's a matteh, a stick. A matteh was used for walking, and in Moses' case, also for keeping wayward sheep in line. Sometimes a matteh refers to the staff of a tribal leader-thus, by extension, matteh can mean "tribe." But at its simplest, it's a piece of wood. What makes the matteh of Moses different is that it's also the "staff' of God" (Exod. 4:20). By a dry piece of wood, filled with the almighty sap of God's Word, Moses turned the Nile to blood, divided the sea, and destroyed one of the most powerful armies on earth.

The story of salvation is riddled with God's oddball weaponry. From the matteh of Moses; to the torches, trumpets, and clay jars of Gideon; to Samson's donkey jawbone; all the way to the strangest weapon of all: two pieces of wood, crisscrossed, blood-splattered, and holding the body of the itself, lay vanquished. Word of God himself. By that weapon, all our enemies, including death itself; lay vanquished. 

Jesus, King of mercy, who reigns in triumph from the tree, all praise be to you for our salvation.