Whose Side is God On Anyway?

Joshua 5:13–15

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 approached Him and asked, "Are You for us or for our enemies?"

"Neither," He replied. "I have now come as commander of the LORD’s army."

Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, "What does my Lord want to say to His servant?"

The commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Whose side is God on? Isn’t He on our side?

The question is not: “Whose side is God on?” The question is: “Whose side am I on?”

God does not take sides. We do not form a team and then invite God to come and join us. God is no team’s mascot!

God is God. There is only one team that matters: God’s team. There is only one side that matters: God’s side. Whose side are we one? In essence that is what Joshua did: he said, “LORD, I want to be on Your side.” God said, “Then take your sandals off your feet, because My side is the holy side and you have to be holy to be in My army.” And notice what Joshua did: he took his sandals off. He did not have to debate with himself about this decision. At this point he chose not to be a leader, but a follower—because to be an effective leader one must be a good follower—and follow the right Leader.

Do not make the mistake that God is neutral. He certainly is not. He is against those who stand on the side of sin. He destroyed Jericho because of their sinfulness. God is not neutral. He does have a side. But it is always the side of holiness.

Whose side are you on?