PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Joshua 5-6
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither…’ (Joshua 5:13-14)
In every controversy or war, people want to know: whose side is God on?
Each side thinks that they are in the right, and God stands with the right ones!
You would think that God’s commander would be on Israel’s side.
But God does not fit Himself to our sides; He calls us to His side!
“For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16), which includes all sides.
The division of sides is not in God, but within us, in each one of us.
God is for us and all people, yet God is against sin (and sin is in all people).
We too quickly assume that God is for Christians and against Muslims.
For Israel and against the Palestinians… for evangelicals and against catholics…
Obviously God is against atheists and sinners right?
God sees past our external appearances and differences to see our hearts.
Jesus also did not accept human divisions and categories; He loved all people.
The question for me is not ‘is Jesus on my side?’ but ‘am I on Jesus’s side”?
And not just in word; am I joining with Jesus in His mission to love and save ALL people?
PRAYER
Lord, somehow in this Jericho story You were at work for God and for the whole world, and not just Israel. You are still working for the good of all people, that they might know God. Help me to stand with You in this!
I’ve always wanted the Lord on my side – but the truth is I need to figure out how to be on His side. Its what the Lord wants – how I can bear fruit for His kingdom – that’s what counts. May I contemplate what it is that the Lord would want – the WWJD thinking – then I will be on the Lord’s side and He will help me accomplish much for His Kingdom!
The one thing that comes to mind for me is that when I take God with me in my battle zone He will give me victory over sin. It’s about asking God to be with me in every situation and circumstance and then up to me to listen and obey.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
“Are you for us or for our enemies?” .“Neither,” he replied… Lord forgive my bias. I have always believed the promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us applies only to those who acknowledged you as Lord and surrendered their lives to you. And that if you are for us who can be against us!
Thank you for this conviction today that you are neither on each side for you are love and you love the world .. man, woman, the in between, and the others; animals, plants, and the whole universe. All those for us and against us … You are there in the midst of the persecuted and the persecutors. O Sovereign Lord in the battle I will face may I with firm conviction declare it and live it that I am on your side, my Jesus; and that the Lord requires of me to love mercy, to do justly, and to walk humbly with my God.
The Lord was with Joshua for he served the Lord. As with Moses, Joshua was standing on holy ground. He listened to the voice of the Lord. He was in His service. And I too need to listen o that voice and walk in His way saying as Samuel, speak Lord for your servant is listening.
1
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
Thy erring children lost and lone.
2
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
3
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
4
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.