On Choosing God’s Side

Joshua 5:13-15 MSG And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?” ¹⁴ He said, “Neither. I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?” ¹⁵ God’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.”  Joshua did it. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG  Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. 

Observation 

Let’s consider who this commander of God’s army might be.  I believe it was Jesus.  He allowed Joshua to fall down and worship Him, something an angel would not do, and Jesus is identified as the commander of God’s army in Revelation (Revelation 19:9-16 NIV).  Regardless, any meeting with any angel must have been a jarring, overwhelming experience since the glory of God often accompanied them (Luke 2:8-10).  This man must have exuded the appearance, confidence and presence of a mighty warrior for Joshua to accept his self-identification as the commander of God’s army.   

It was a common practice for armies to take their gods with them into battle.  The gods worshipped by mighty conquering armies were seen as fearsome and powerful.  The Israelites carried the Ark of the Covenant into battle, but the Ark was more than some weapon or token of supernatural backing.  The Ark carried the presence of the one true almighty God who gave them victory as they engaged the battles He called them to fight.  When the man says, “Neither,” he is giving Joshua a third side to choose. 

“What orders does my Master have for his servant?”  Joshua took the third side – God’s side – and did not hesitate to submit his authority to God’s commander.  He had seen enough of the ways of God in Egypt, in the wilderness and crossing over Jordan to adopt God’s plan without hesitation.  The battle plan for Jericho was going to be fought with the weapons of obedience, faith, and submission to the same God who brought them out of Egypt and through the wilderness. 

Impact On Me 

How often do I only see or consider two sides – my side and the opposing one?  How often do I assume that God is on my side rather than ensuring that I am on His?  How often do I launch into battle without seeking God for His battle plan?  Jesus consistently shocked His disciples by challenging what was considered pleasing to God, choosing His side.  Which of us would come up with a salvation plan that starred a meek and humble man, a troublemaker rejected by the accepted religious authorities, a crucified Savior?   

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.”  In my experience, choosing God’s side is not always easy, comfortable, safe or logical.  I had to learn the hard way that I was not always going to understand or be my version of successful or even be liked in my faithfulness.  At the very least, my pride will have to die in submitting to Jesus as Lord.  I want to be like Joshua at this moment and like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when the time comes to choose sides. 

Prayer

Almighty, All-Wise, Merciful God, Your battle plan for redeeming humankind may not make sense to me but I choose Your side, Your plan, Your weapons.  Train me to recognize how to use love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, humility, kindness and all Your other virtues as weapons to fight Your battles for the souls You desire to save.  Change my definition of success to align with Yours.  May I clearly hear and quickly obey Your commands on each and every battlefield where You send me.  I ask it all in the name of Jesus.  Make it so.