Whose Side Are You On?

In a fight, especially one that really counts, it is always good to know who’s on your side.  This was the position the people of Israel found themselves in as they marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days in a row. For six days the people walked around the city once.  On the seventh day, however, God instructed them to march around the city seven times and when they heard the trumpet they were to give a loud shout and the walls would fall.  Then they were to run up to the city and take it.

As any good general would do, Joshua takes a survey of the terrain before him. He wants to know what lies ahead and what challenges Jericho will present for his people.  As he surveys the area around the city, he lifts his head and sees a man standing there with a drawn sword.  Curious as to who this man is and whose side he will take in the upcoming battle, Joshua approaches him.  The exchange between these two men provides our scripture reading for today and provides Joshua with a set of circumstances beyond his expectations.

In Joshua 5:13-15 we find the conversation between Joshua and this warrior.  “Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"  "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"  The  commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.”

Joshua learned very quickly that this was no ordinary man.  He was an angel, sent from God to remind Joshua that the battle that lay before Israel belonged to God and He would fight for them.  All they had to do was remain faithful and obedient.  Notice how quickly Joshua changes his tone and his question.  The commander of the Lord’s army is not on anyone’s side.  God is sovereign and doesn’t take sides.  The real question was not whose side was the Lord on but rather whose side was Joshua on?  That is all that mattered.

The same is true for us today.  We are constantly bombarded with ideas, movements, temptations, etc. all vying for our attention.  We are continually urged to join this group, to subscribe the a certain philosophy, or to choose which segment of Christianity we are going to join.  But the most important thing is that we are on God’s side.  That is all that matters because if we are where God is we are right where we are supposed to be and He is with us.  If, however, we are not with Him, then it really doesn’t matter what or whose side we are on, does it?  To be aligned with someone else is to be aligned squarely against God.

Wherever you are today, be it at work, at school, on the road, at home, or in the grocery store, please know that as a child of the living God He is fighting your battles for you.  All He requires of you is that you remain obedient and faithful to Him.  He will help you through every trial, every difficulty, and every obstacle as long as you follow the path He has laid out for you.  The question is not about God being on your side; He is.  The question we must answer is are we on His side today?