For or Against; With or Without

This morning's time with God was a little fuzzy. I found it hard to concentrate due to my current physical-state, (see previous post). Nonetheless, in the short chapter of Joshua that I read, I stumbled upon something that perhaps the Holy Spirit wanted to point out to me today so that my frame of mind might be set upright.

I'm in the process of reading the bible straight through, and I'm in Joshua, and today I read chapter 5, the chapter right before the famous battle of Jericho. A little background: The new generation of Israelites have just been circumcised, renewing the covenant or at least reminding us of the covenant between God and His people; the manna has ceased, and the people are finally feasting on a vast array of different crops from the land of Canaan. The majority of the chapter is spent explaining this, but after all of this information is given us, the text moves to state that Joshua was near Jericho and suddenly saw a Man standing before him with a drawn sword. Joshua's first question to the man was, "are you for us (meaning the armies of Israel) or against us (meaning for the enemies)?" You would think, if this man was an angel from God or some sort of messenger or manifestation from God, the answer given to Joshua would be, "I am for you," or "I am with you," or "I am sent from the God you worship to help you." But none of these answers were given. Joshua asked an 'either/or' question, and the man with the drawn sword answered by saying "No." He just said "No." That doesn't make sense.

Fortunately, the man with the sword does not stop with the answer of "No," however, he continues on saying "BUT I am commander of the army of the Lord." Immediately, the text says, Joshua falls down and worships this man, referring to himself as the man's servant, and asking what the Man would have him to do. In response, the commander of the Lord's army tells Joshua to take off his shoes because the place he is standing is holy ground. Joshua follows the instruction. And then the story ends. We hear nothing more of this encounter. The text jumps ahead to describing how the battle of Jericho ensues.

So what are we to make of this text? This little blip? What does it mean? What is its purpose here? Well I will not venture to say that I can answer all those questions, but this morning, I believe that God gave me a little perspective... of which I am willing to share.

1. Notice that Joshua walks up to the man asking him if he is 'for Joshua and his people' or 'against them.' Joshua's focus is on himself, his people, his agenda. He does not ask 'Who are you?' He asks 'Are you with me?' 
2. The man with the sword does not pay respect to Joshua's question by giving a direct answer to it; rather, he REDIRECTS Joshua's focus, explaining who HE is, and says "I am the commander of the army of the Lord." What this seems to tell me is that the perspective the Man with the sword is evoking must be as follows:
1. God is in control. The army is God's army. The plan is God's plan. NOT Israel's army and plan.
2. Joshua and Israel have been graciously brought into God's plan but for God's purpose first and foremost and not just for the self-serving purposes of the people. So the purpose is not for Joshua and the Israelites to be great and conquer for their OWN sake; rather, they WILL conquer for GOD'S sake so that GOD'S NAME and GLORY will be made known.
3. In addition, we see that Joshua quickly recognizes this and bows before the man and worships. This act and the lack of Scriptural rebuke or objection to the action makes me think that this Man with the Sword was God in some way since God commands throughout Scripture that only He is to be worshiped. 
4. Lastly, we find that when Joshua asks God/Sword Man what he should do, the instruction from God/Sword Man are that Joshua should take off his shoes because the ground upon which he stands is holy. 
1. The instructions have nothing to do with the battle that is about to begin at Jericho. There is not strategy talk yet. 
2. The instructions have nothing to do with how to lead the people even though Joshua has only recently become the leader.
3. The instructions call to mind Moses experience at the Burning Bush when God told him to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground.
4. The instructions point us toward Joshua (and us) first realizing and reverencing and respecting this God whom he (we) serves...recognizing that it is not about Joshua and his agenda; rather, He is God of Heaven and Earth, commander of the Army, the Great "I Am." Joshua is not. Israel is not. We are not. What Joshua and Israel and we are IS servants of this God, but this GOD is God.

I suppose all this stands out to me this morning and speaks to me because I believe I, and many of my Christian brothers and sisters, come before God with requests. On good days, we will say a few praises about 'who He is' or 'what He's done,' but our minds rarely marinate on the fact that HE IS THE LORD and we are SERVANTS, the people of His pasture. This life and this world and our every day circumstances are not really ALL ABOUT US AND OUR DESIRES AND AGENDAS. And perhaps before we can ever be of any service to God, we must FIRST get that straight. Before God can ever use us as He used Moses and Joshua, we have first to realize that we walk on Holy Ground as children of God. He has chosen us to be part of HIS AGENDA. We GET to experience it. That is the blessing. 

Such a message is subversive in the culture of most areas of the world today. "It's all about me, myself, and I" is a common war chant heard from toddlers, youth, teenagers, young adults, and even adults. We go to our graves seeking our agendas and welfare and wants and desires. But do we go to our grave recognizing that the question is not whether God is 'for us' or 'against us,'  but whether we are 'with God' or 'without God?'  The question is do we recognize that God is for God and has allowed us to be part of His plans and purposes, and that because of His goodness and greatness and Jesus Christ, being a part of His plans will also result in good FOR us...albeit not necessarily good in the way we would typically define the word.... And all of THAT is the incredible blessing. 

Sadly, I don't think this is our perspective...so maybe that's why we have Joshua 5....and other Scriptures similar to it...to help refocus our minds, clear our thoughts, set straight our path to the narrow road of seeking the Lord and the Lord's will...come what may.

Amen. 

So then, just thinking, maybe instead of saying "God be with you" to people, we should REALLY say more often "Go with God."