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 they are in the right, and God stands with them!
You would think that God’s commander would be on Israel’s side.
But God does not fit on our sides; we are called to God’s 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 (unloving behaviour).
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’?
Am I joining with Jesus in his mission to love and save ALL people?
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me for thinking you are on my side. Help me to stand with you on the side of grace, mercy, peace and love for all!
“Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” A clean break – adds to the meaning of circumcision for me – as baptism is for cleansing as well. We make a clean break! And look what it enabled Joshua to do – the Lord led the way – Joshua and the people had to get on the Lord’s side – not the other way around – and when they did God enabled the walls to tumble down! I too need to make a clean break and come on the Lord’s side – seek God’s will and not ask God to bless my will. Help me Lord to learn to walk in your ways so that Lord Jesus I’m always on your side!
And the walls fell down.
What a miracle! As the people then, so I too today, need to follow the Word of the Lord. I need Him every hour in order to do His will, despite the impossibilities that may be. I need to go forward on His promises that He will be my Guardian and Helper. I need to walk each day in His Light so that His will be done. My will must be aligned to His purpose for my life.
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.