Friend or Foe?

Opening Story

As a teenager I remember taking a trip to Nashville TN with my grandfather. A couple hours into the trip, as our conversations often would, we started talking having a theological discussion. Debate would probably be a better way to put it. I was making my case with great passion and in my mind, great wisdom (boy was I wrong.) My grandfather was very patient with me and let me “preach” my case. Once I thought I said all that needed to be said I ended my side of the argument with the words… “God said so.” I knew I pulled out the ace in the argument and a God loving man like my grandfather could never argue with “God said so.” With a smirk on his face he asked me, “Really? God said so.” I’m sure I had an arrogance to me as I just answered with, “yup.” While driving he said, “David, please open the glove box.” I did as he said. When I opened it I saw a Bible and as I pulled it out, my grandfather said to me, “Please show me where God said that.” I don’t know how long I searched and searched for the words to prove that God agreed with me but it seems like hours. While I was still searching through scripture we were driving through Cincinnati, OH. In the busy traffic my grandfather excitedly said, “Look at the car next to us.” As I turned and looked I saw Boomer Esiason driving right next to us in a red convertible with the top down. I was never so excited to see a Cincinnati Bengel. I allowed that to change the subject as I slowly put the Bible away.

You see, I believed that God was on my side so no matter where the conversation went. I couldn’t lose. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

In the heat of the American Civil War, one of President Lincoln’s advisors said he was grateful that God was on the side of the Union. Lincoln replied, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

Question

As President Lincoln correctly pointed out we must be on God’s side. Does our life and our prayers reflect that, or are we like that knucklehead teenager thinking God is or needs to be on our side?

Text

Joshua

Joshua 5:13–15 CSB

13 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 approached him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did that.

Joshua 5:13 CSB

13 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 approached him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

Joshua is checking out the walls of Jericho.

He “looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword.”

When Joshua notices this stranger with his sword brandished - Joshua asked him… “Are you for us or for our enemies?”, basically are you “Friend or Foe?”

A commander of a army would have every right to know the answer to this question.

If he was with him, or a friend, he was about to be sent to the brig because Joshua gave no command for anyone to draw a sword.

If he was for Joshua’s enemies, Joshua was ready to fight.

One thing Joshua doesn’t realize is that he just asked the wrong question.

Joshua 5:14 CSB

14 “Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant?”

“Neither.” - Neither? Joshua may have been thinking that there is no third choice here.

“I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.”

Now for Joshua this is a whole new ballgame. At this point it seems that Joshua understood what was really going on. It wasn’t for this “Commander of the Lord’s army,” to be with or against Joshua. It was for Joshua to with this Commander of the Lord’s army.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:14

It seems clear that Joshua was indeed talking to the Angel of the Lord, another appearance in Old Testament times of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (cf. 6:2).

Joshua realizing who this is bows to the ground and ask what the Lord would like to say to him, His humble servant.

Joshua 5:15 CSB

15 The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did that.

The presence of the Lord sanctified this spot just as He did with Moses at the burning bush.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:15

This was a deeply significant experience for Joshua. He had anticipated a battle between two opposing armies, Israelite and Canaanite. He had thought this was to be his war and that he was to be the general-in-charge. But then he confronted the divine Commander and learned that the battle was the Lord’s. The top general of the LORD‘s army had not come to be an idle Spectator of the conflict, or even an ally.

Application & Challenge

So often we go through life fighting in battles that we have no business fighting in.

We go through life often asking and even begging God to be on our side.

Challenge

Pray. Pray for your heart to be aligned with God.

Read scripture. Don’t take my word for it. Don’t even take Pastor Duane’s or any other pastor’s word for it. Dive into scripture and take God’s Word for it.

React just as Joshua did and bow before the Lord and ask what He has for you. Don’t wake up in the morning and tell God what you have for Him. It just doesn’t work that way.

Exodus 14:14 NIV

14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”