Joshua 5:13a 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….
A dear friend once told me, “Any time we draw a line between ‘us’ and ‘them,’ God is always on the other side.” That philosophy has stuck with me. God is love, mercy, and compassion. He’s not about hate, division, and labeling. However, this section of Joshua brings up another really important point, a crucial question, “Am I on God’s side?”
Joshua 5:13b-14a …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….”
I understand why Joshua asked the question he did. There’s about to be a battle. Here’s this man with a drawn sword. Joshua wants to know if this man is for “us” or “them.” Whose side is he on? “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come….”
Joshua 5:14b …Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that even more important than not reducing sides to “us” and “them,” it is absolutely crucial that we make sure that whatever we are fighting for in life, that we are on Your side, standing in Your will, fighting Your battles and not our own. Humble our hearts and draw us closer to You. Always. Amen.
Joshua 5:15 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.
Have a blessed day
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.