Recently, Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, has been a national sports phenomenon. A very gifted athlete, but not a particularly good passer. Still, he led his team to six straight victories with most of them coming in amazing fashion.
The main reason he’s gotten so much attention, though, is that he’s also a Christian and is very vocal about it, giving glory to God during every interview he gives.
That leads some people to criticize him, as if he’s claiming divine intervention for all his athletic feats. Which I think he would tell you he’s not.
Frankly, I don’t think God worries too much about who wins games in sports (although I have been known to throw up a prayer or two for my favorite teams). 🙂
But I think even Tim Tebow would say it’s not so much that God’s on his side, as he’s on God’s side.
And that’s what Joshua needed to learn in this passage.
A man came before Joshua, and and when Joshua asked him, “Are you on our side or theirs?” he replied, “Neither. But I have come as commander of the army of the Lord.” (Joshua 5:13-14)
Most people believe that it was actually Jesus himself that appeared to Joshua in this passage. The commander then told him, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” (15)
And when Joshua did so, the commander gave him his instructions from God.
So often, we ask ourselves “Is God on our side?” And I suppose it’s a legitimate question. God does often let us know that he is on our side.
But the real question that we need to ask ourselves is are we on his? And are we doing the things that he’s asked us to do?
And that’s what the commander let Joshua know. The question wasn’t whether God was on Joshua’s side. But whether Joshua was on God’s side.
And it was because Joshua put himself on God’s side, and had a heart that was soft to Him, that God could use him. The same is true with us.
How about you? Whose side are you on?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 