ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 TOKONAKI MA’ASI 14, 2026

SIOSIUA 12-15; SAAME 2:1-12

In times that you wonder what God is doing, it's important to remember that he will unleash his power for the defense, protection, and guidance of his children.

‘I he taimi ‘oku ke fifili ai ki he ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku mahu’inga ke ke manatu’i, te ne tuku mai hono ivi mafimafi ke fai tau, malu’i mo tataki ‘a ‘Ene fanau.

We all go through times when God seems distant, passive, and maybe even uncaring. In these moments we can be tempted to believe that God has forgotten his promises to us or, even worse, has forgotten us. We may even get to the point at which we wonder whether God is who he's declared himself to be. In our fear, discouragement, and doubt, we may begin to wander away from him. We may begin to let go of habits of personal devotion and prayer, wondering what good they do. When we're in a spiritual desert or experiencing a dark night of the soul, we are susceptible to hearing the lie of the enemy, as Adam and Eve did in the garden. It is always the same lie: there is something better out there than trusting, worshiping, and obeying the Lord.

I am deeply persuaded that biblical history - and what it reveals of the glory of God's character, plan, and work on behalf of his people - is designed to speak with wisdom and hope when we are about to lose hope. In those moments, we need a fresh vision of the glory of God working on behalf of his people. When God's glory is clouded, we all need something that will break through the clouds. Joshua 12 is that kind of cloud-bursting passage. Stand back and take time to consider what it says about the power of God and his work for his people: 

And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments,...): the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one. (Josh. 12:7,9-18)

You may be thinking, "Paul, what in the world does this have to do with the hard thing I'm facing right now?" This passage should blow your mind and fill your heart with hope. King after king after king was defeated - not by Joshua and the Israelite army alone, but by the power of God. God will do whatever is in his almighty power to provide for, protect, and defeat the enemies necessary of his people. The ultimate example of this is Jesus, who came in divine power to defeat the ultimate enemies of sin and death, and is fighting now for you.