God is on my side
Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?” He replied, “Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, “What do you command your servant, my lord?” Joshua 5:13-15
This is an interesting story for the author to include. The context is of Israel when it is laying siege to Jericho. So why include this rather obscure story?
Joshua meets a man in the fields who looks like he his ready for battle and to kill someone. Joshua asks him thinking whether he is an ally or an enemy. But the man’s answer is that he is “Neither.” Why would he say neither instead of “I’m an ally”? God does not take sides. He is not partial to anyone… instead God reverses the question: “Who’s side are you one: for God or against God?”
In the following two chapters the author shows that God will judge both Jericho and Israel for their sin. The question is not will God fight for us and be on our side, BUT will we be on God’s side.
Joshua is concerned with this question and understands that this is most important:
Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, whether the gods of your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
Joshua basically says, “As for me and my household, we will be on God’s side, regardless if God is on our side in battle.” God demands that we take sides — his side or our own.