Joshua 5:13-14
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, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"
In spiritual battles, Lord is not only the marshal of the war, He is also the linchpin of our victory. In Old Testament, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Moab's army surrounded them. People were frightened, not knowing what to do. The spirit of God said to king Jehoshaphat, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." The words are not meant to let us become loose. Rather, because victory doesn't depend on us, we need to rely on God with prayer even more. If we clearly know that God controls whether we win or lose, and yet do not rely on God by praying, then after our defeat, we will regret not doing everything we should have done.
Before the battle, Joshua came to God searching. He saw a messenger, standing in front of him holding a drawn sword. He immediately asked the question that everyone would have asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" Isn't that a question that we always care for? But the Lord didn't seem to answer that question directly. He merely said, "as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." In other words, the question was not which side was God on, but which side was Joshua on. God is the marshal of the army of Jehovah. Are you and I on God's side?
During Civil War, both army engaged in a tug of war. President Lincoln and his staffs were all praying. His staff asked he worriedly, "Mr. President, do you feel that God is on our side?" President Lincoln answered, "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side" We have to adjust our attitude. What we often care about are ourselves, family, career, children, and marriage. We need to focus on the Lord. At every crossroad of our life, say to Him, "Lord, we are willing to surrender to the work in your hands. May you fulfill it on us according to your will."
Only after our hearts have surrendered to the God can He start His work. Otherwise, we always think we know better ways, have better answers, and not willing to let God do His work. Brothers and sisters, this is a choice that you can make - From now on, are you willing to choose to be on God's side in your daily life?
Lord, we worship you as the marshal of our lives. May you help us not be self-centered, not just live to satisfy with our own desires, but simply seek you. Lord, I am willing to be on your side everyday! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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