Whose Side is God On?

 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. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”  “Neither,” he replied. Joshua 5:13

There’s a great urban legend from Baylor University football: Before one of Baylor’s many games against the University of Texas, one where Texas was again expected to make a public spectacle of Baylor, a local pastor was asked to pray before the game. He reportedly took the Baylor Stadium microphone and simply said, “Lord if it’s your will, help Baylor win. If not, stay out of it.”

How many times have you wondered whose side God was on? As Christians, we do it all the time, even if our perceived adversaries are other Christians. From athletics to elections, and from lawsuits to divorces, we expect and want God to take our side.

So imagine Joshua’s shock and awe when the pre-incarnate Jesus answered his “Whose side are you on” question with a rather blunt, “Neither.”

And it was just after that, that the Lord commanded Joshua to take off his shoes and get on his face.

Sometimes, especially in the midst of conflict, trials and even suffering, what we most need is perspective. We see our adversary as the source of our problems. If they would just go away or grow up or repent or die or try harder or do whatever, then we’d be fine.

And it’s in moments like that, moments when your joy or perceived success depends on whether or not someone else does something, that God wants you flat on your face.

When it comes to conflict, God ultimately isn’t on your side, nor is he on your adversary’s. Rather, he wants to know whose side you’re on. Because if you will seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, if you will prioritize his work and if you will seek to make his name famous, then you will have all that you need.

Regardless of what your perceived adversaries may do.

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