Who side are you on?

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Joshua commanding the sun to stand stillImage via Wikipedia
“And he said, ‘No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped” (Josh. 5:14).
Consciously or not, all of us evaluate the people we meet in order to determine if they are potential friends or foes. Male or female, we all learn early in life that not everyone can be trusted and that competition is an ever-present reality. If we are to “win,” we know that we have to understand what we are up against.
Shortly before the siege of Jericho, we read of Joshua’s attempt to size up a potentially powerful friend or deadly enemy. Having been made the leader of Israel after the death of Moses (Josh. 1:1–9), he and th
Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle, c. 1896-19...Image via Wikipediae nation were encamped just outside the city where Joshua meets a man standing before him, sword drawn (5:13).
Though Joshua asks this figure an either/or question regarding whether He is on Israel’s side, the man does not choose any of Joshua’s proffered options. Instead, He declares that He is the commander of the army of the Lord, and He does not rebuke Joshua when the Israelite general worships Him (5:14). This reveals that the encounter here is with one who is far greater than any angel.
God's Messenger Appears to Joshua. This work i...Image via WikipediaToday’s passage depicts a Christophany — a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. In this face-to-face meeting, the Lord does not say that He is on Joshua’s side, though such is implied in Joshua 1:1–9. Instead, He declares Himself to Joshua as if to say, “I am the Captain of the heavenly host, are you on my side?” (see also 24:14–15).
All of us must likewise decide with which army we will align ourselves. Will we submit to the one who alone can lead us into the land of promise (Heb. 3:7–4:13), or will we enlist in the army of darkness? May we respond like Joshua and follow the leader of God’s forces.
Joshua, who bears the same name in Hebrew as our Lord does, met Jesus as the commander of God’s army, but is also himself a type of savior. As leader of the Israelites in victory over Canaan, Joshua typifies the one who defeated sin and death on the cross. Are you confident in the victory of ChrisMoses Blesses Joshua Before the High Priest, a...Image via Wikipediat? Do you rejoice knowing that He has conquered and has seen fit to use you in the battle? Look to Jesus to give you courage and follow Him wherever He leads.
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