Are You For Us or For Our Enemies?
Pastor Tan Thai · Jan 10, 2021
This sermon, based on Joshua 5:13–15 and 6:1–2, examines Joshua's encounter with the Commander of the LORD's army before the battle of Jericho. The message reveals that instead of asking 'Is God on my side?', the right question is 'Am I on God's side?'
The sermon opens with the historical background: after forty years in the wilderness due to the unbelief of the previous generation, Joshua leads the Israelites into the promised land and faces the fortified city of Jericho. The pastor emphasizes the lesson of faith through a sharp contrast between the ten highly skilled but faithless spies and Rahab the harlot, a woman despised by society who demonstrated strong faith in God. Rahab is mentioned three times in the New Testament, listed in Hebrews 11 as a hero of faith, and included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
The central section analyzes Joshua's question: 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' The pastor argues that the man with the drawn sword was not an ordinary angel but the pre-incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ before His earthly birth. Drawing on Exodus 3, Malachi 3:1, and Revelation 22:8–9, the pastor demonstrates that the 'Angel of the LORD' accepted worship and spoke as God Himself, whereas ordinary angels consistently refused worship.
The Commander's one-word answer—'No'—carries profound theological weight: the holy God does not take sides in disputes between sinful humans. People tend to want God to move toward them without changing themselves. The pastor warns that the right question is, 'How can I come to be on God's side?' and cites Luke 12:13–14 and Luke 16:27–28 to illustrate the human tendency to try to direct God according to personal desires.
The final section focuses on holiness and submission. The command 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy' parallels Moses' experience before the burning bush, confirming that the holy God requires complete surrender before Him. The pastor concludes with the gospel: Jesus Christ Himself, the Commander of the LORD's armies, humbled Himself to come to sinful humanity out of great love, opening the way for people to come to God's side—something no one can accomplish on their own (Romans 3:23).