ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tokonaki Sune 3, 2023

Dry Ground.... Again   חרבה

Nau to e tu‘u ‘i he potu momoa

JOSHUA 3:17

NOW THE PRIESTS BEARING THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD STOOD FIRMLY ON DRY GROUND IN THE MIDST OF THE JORDAN, AND ALL ISRAEL WAS PASSING OVER ON DRY GROUND UNTIL ALL THE NATION FINISHED PASSING OVER THE JORDAN.

SIOSIUA 3:17

Pea ko e kau taula‘eiki na‘a nau kauala ‘a e ‘A‘ake ‘o e Kovinānite ‘o Sihova na‘a nau tu‘u ma‘u ‘i he mōmoa ‘i loto Soatani, pea na‘e a‘a atu ‘a ‘Isileli kātoa ‘i he mōmoa, kae‘oua ke ‘osi‘osingamālie ‘a e pule‘anga ‘enau a‘a atu ‘i Soatani.

(Liliu Faka-Tonga)

Ko e ongo kolosi’anga ‘e ua, Tahi Kulokula mo e Vai Soatani, ko e ongo fakapotu ia ‘i he fononga ‘a ha’a ‘Isileli mei he nofo popula ki he tau’ataina. ‘I he konga ‘uluaki, na’a nau mavahe mei he mo’ui mamahi mo e mo’ui li’ekina; ‘I he konga hono ua, na’a nau hu ki he fonua ‘o e hu’akau mo e honi. ‘I he ‘uluaki, na’e faka’auha honau fili; ‘I he tu’u hono ua, ko kinautolu ia na’a nau faka’auha honau fili. Ka ‘i he ongo kolosi ‘e ua ko eni, na’e ‘ikai te nau kakau, pe a’a, pe heka vaka, ka na’a nau fononga lalo ‘i he kelekele momoa charavah   ("potu mōmoa). Ko honau ‘Otua, ‘a ē na’e folofola “ke hā mai ‘a e mōmoa” ‘i he ‘aho hono tolu ‘o e Fakatupu (Sen 1:9), na’a ne toe folofola ke hoko ha mana ma’a hono kakai ke nau fononga ‘i he charavah ("potu mōmoa) ki he fakatupu fo’ou ‘o e tau’ataina mo e fiefia. 

‘I he taimi na’e papitaiso ai ‘a Sisu ‘i he Vai Soatani, na’e ‘ikai ke mavaeua ‘a e vai; ka ko e langi ia na’e mavaeua (Matiu 3:16). Ko e Misaia, ko e hoko ‘o kakano ‘a ‘Isileli, ‘io, hoko ‘o tangata ‘a e ‘Otua, na’e talitali ‘e he Tamai ‘a hono ‘Alo Pelee, ko e fakahoifua. Pea ‘i he’etau papitaiso kia Kalaisi, ‘oku tau anuanu ‘i he kelesi ka ‘oku tau tu’u ‘i he potu mōmoa ‘oku iku ki he tau’ataina mo e fiefia, ko e fanau ‘ofeina ‘a e ‘Otua. 

Fokotu’u ma’u homau va’ee, ‘e Tamai, ‘i he potu mōmoa ‘o e tui, ‘amanaki mo e ‘ofa. 

Two water crossings, the Red Sea and Jordan River, serve as bookends for the Israelite journey from slavery to freedom. In the first, they left the land of menace and humiliation; in the second, they entered the land of milk and honey. In the first, their enemies were destroyed; after the second, they destroyed their enemies. Common to both crossings is that they didn't swim, wade, or raft across, but walked on charavah ("dry ground"). Their Lord, who said, "Let the dry land appear" on the third day of creation (Gen. 1:9), spoke his almighty Word once more to usher his people on charavah into the new creation of liberation and joy.

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, it wasn't the waters that were parted; the heavens themselves were rent asunder (Matt. 3:16). The Messiah, as  Israel-reduced-to-one, indeed, all humanity in one man, is welcomed by the Father as his beloved Son in whom he is well pleased. Baptized into Christ, we are wet with grace and yet also stand on the dry ground that leads to freedom and joy as the beloved children of God.

Plant our feet firmly, dear Father, on the ground of faith, hope, and love.