ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu’apulelulu Sune 8, 2023

Trouble Valley and Hope's Doorway

TELE‘A ‘O E MAMAHI MO E MATAPA ‘O E ‘AMANAKI

JOSHUA 7:25-26

AND JOSHUA SAID [TO ACHAN], "WHY DID YOU BRING TROUBLE ON US? THE LORD BRINGS TROUBLE ON YOU TODAY." AND ALL ISRAEL STONED HIM WITH STONES. THEY BURNED THEM WITH FIRE AND STONED THEM WITH STONES. AND THEY RAISED OVER HIM A GREAT HEAP OF STONES THAT REMAINS TO THIS DAY. THEN THE LORD TURNED FROM HIS BURNING ANGER. THEREFORE, TO THIS DAY THE NAME OF THAT PLACE IS CALLED THE VALLEY OF ACHOR.

SIOSIUA 7:25-26

25 Pea lea hake ‘a Siosiua, Ko e hā kuo ke fakamamahi‘i ai kimautolu? ‘E fakamamahi‘i koe ‘e Sihova he ‘aho ni. Pea na‘e tolomaka‘i ia ‘e ‘Isileli kātoa; pea na‘a nau tutu kinautolu ‘aki ‘a e afi, pea na‘a nau toki lī maka kiate kinautolu. 26 Pea na‘a nau tokotu‘u kiate ia ha fu‘u ‘esi maka, ‘a ia ‘oku tu‘u ‘o a‘u ki he ‘aho ni: pea na‘e toki foki ‘a Sihova mei he kakaha ‘o ‘ene houhau. Ko ia na‘e hingoa ai ‘a e potu ko ia, Ko Tele‘a ‘Ākoli (Fakamamahi) ‘o a‘u ki he ‘aho ni.

(Liliu Faka-Tonga)

‘Oku hoko ‘a e mape ‘o ‘Isileli, ko ha fakamanatu ‘o ‘enau angahala. Na’e ‘omi ‘e ‘Akani ha akar (faingata’a) ki ‘Isileli, pea akar (fakamamahi’i) ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a ‘Isileli, pea na’e tanu ‘i Akor (‘Ākoli), Tele‘a Fakamamahi. Na’e hoko ‘a e angahala ‘a ‘Akani ko ha konga ‘ao ke ne fakamele’i ‘a e taimi fakafiefia ko eni ki he kakai ‘Isileli. Na’e toki hoko mai ‘a e kau palofita ki mui ange mo ‘enau palofisai kau ki he Tele’a Fakamamahi, ‘e hoko ko ha Faka’amanaki. Na’e kikite’i ‘e Hosea ha ‘ekisoto hono ua, ‘e taki ‘e he Misaia, ‘i he taimi ‘e toe fakahu ai ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a hono kakai mei he nofo toafa, ‘e hoko ‘a e Tele’a ‘o ‘Akoli ko ha matapa ‘o e ‘amanaki (Hosea 2:15). ‘Oku toe fakamatala ki ai ‘a ‘Aisea, ‘i he’ene lave ki he tapuaki ‘o e kakai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he kaha’u, ‘e hoko ‘a e Tele’a ‘Akoli “ko e potu ke tākoto ai ‘a e fanga pulu, ma‘a hoku kakai ‘oku kumi kiate au” (‘Aisea 65:10).

‘Oku ‘ikai h faingata’a ‘e lahi hake ‘i he mafai ‘o e ‘Otua ke ne liua. ‘Oku ho ‘e hono Laumalie ki he efuefu pea malama meia ai ‘a e maama ‘o ‘ene ‘amanaki, he ko e ‘Otua ia ‘oku ne ‘omi ‘a e Toetu’u mei he Falaite Lelei.

“ ‘Eiki, ke hā kiate kimautolu ho‘o ‘ofa, ‘O taau mo ‘emau tatali ki he ‘Afiona” 

(Saame 33:22). 

Israel's map memorializes sin. Achan, who brought trouble (akar) on Israel, whom the Lord troubled (akar), is buried in the Valley of Trouble (Akor). In what should have been a jubilant time of celebration, Achan's sin cast a pall over Israel's party. In an  unexpected twist, however, later prophets point to Trouble Valley as Hope's Doorway. Hosea predicts a second exodus, led by the Messiah, when God will bring Israel out of the wilderness and "make the Valley of Achor a door of hope" (2:15). Isaiah too, when depicting the future blessings of God's people in Christ, says that God will make "the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down" (65:10).

No trouble is bigger than God's ability to overturn it. His Spirit breathes on the ashes of despair to kindle the flame of hope, for he is the Lord who brings Easter out of Good Friday.

"Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you" (Ps. 33:22).