ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 PULELULU MA’ASI 11, 2026

SIOSIUA 1-4; NGAUE 5:17-42

There is no greater act of courage than to obey the law of God, no matter the opposition, the rejection, or the hardships you face.

‘Oku ‘ikai mo ha toe ngaue loto to’a ‘e mahulu hake, ka ko ‘ete talangofua ki he lao ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o tatau ai pe ‘a e fakafepaki, ta’e tali pe ko ha faingata’a ‘oku te fehangahangai mo ia. 

From age ten until about fourteen, I was obsessed with reading automobile-racing stories. It didn't matter what kind of racing, or whether the story was about race cars or race-car drivers. I was taken by the bravery of the drivers who committed themselves to this perilous sport. They faced dangerous conditions, endured physical injuries, and overcame discouraging defeats, but they never gave up. As an awkward middle schooler, I was amazed by their courage, and I wondered if I would have that kind of courage when I grew up.

God had chosen Joshua to lead Israel. This man would need loads of courage to accomplish what God had called him to do. Joshua had been chosen to lead difficult, often discontented people who were known to turn on their leader if they didn't like what they were experiencing. Joshua had been chosen to lead this group of people across the Jordan and into battle against the nations inhabiting the promised land. He had been called to be a wartime general leading an unhappy army into battle after battle. He would need courage for the internal and external battles he would face. I think it's important to recognize and understand how God defines that courage:

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Josh. 1:7-9)

God defines courage as obeying his law no matter what, never allowing yourself to stray away from it to the right or to the left. We are to bathe in God's law day and night, so that it controls the thoughts of our minds and the desires of our hearts. As I read Joshua's commission, conviction sets in and the Spirit leads me to confess that I often fall short of God's standard. But I am not without hope, because a greater Joshua was sent to us. He was perfectly courageous on our behalf. He went about his mission to defeat sin and death, facing opposition, rejection, and torment of soul and body, yet he never wavered. He perfectly measured up to God's standard of courage. We now stand before God as righteous because of the courageous righteousness of Jesus. That's very good news.