Joshua ... lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped
— Joshua 5:13-14
JOSHUA’S LOAD IS HEAVY and frightening. God has made him responsible for leading the people. As he stands looking over Jericho—probably developing a strategy for assaulting the walls—he sees a Man with a drawn sword. Joshua asks: “Are You for us or are You for our adversaries?”
When he learns the Man has come from God, Joshua worships Him. By this action, we can conclude that this Commander was none other than Jesus Christ. An angel would not have accepted worship.
It was a long time before I realized that God was for me rather than for my adversaries. I used to believe God was just waiting for me to make a mistake so He could punish me. I thought He was going to chastise me because I was not always what I should be.
WHEN YOU HAVE A TRUE ENCOUNTER WITH GOD, YOU COME AWAY WITH THE REALIZATION THAT GOD IS FOR YOU.
As Paul said: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). With God on our side, how can we lose?
Father, we thank You for assuring us that You are on our side. Lord, in Your name we go to face our problems. In Your name, we go to claim the territory that You have promised to us.
Amen.