Owned By No Man

Nov. 18

Read: Joshua 5:13-15

(3 of 3)

Owned By No Man

“Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” (v.13)

The Lord does not “work” for us… we work for the Lord. He is not “owned” by any one people or nation, but rather he holds the nations in his hands. There is a subtle re-ordering that needs to take place when we forget these truths. This reality is embedded in this exchange between Joshua and the Commander of the Army of the Lord.

When Joshua looks up and first sees this man with his sword drawn, he asks him what would seem like a natural question: “Are you for use or for our adversaries?” This question very innocently frames the approaching battle and situaiton in human terms:

“Are you for / with these people or are you with these people?”… “Are you on our side or are you on their side?”… “Whose army do you fight for?”

The Lord’s answer back to Joshua is curious:

“And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” (v.14)

The answer Joshua got was “neither”… or “no”. The Lord challenges Joshua’s paradigm… his way of thinking. The Lord is basically saying This fight is not primarily an Israel vs. Jericho equation. In short, the Lord is saying this is not YOUR fight Joshua… it is MINE. This is not rooted in a human paradigm… this is a COSMIC fight with that the LORD is waging with both physical and spiritual components. Functionally, the Commander of the Lord’s Army says, “ I don’t fight for you or for them… but you fight for me. I am not an asset of Israel’s army nor am I an asset that belongs to the people of Jericho… but rather Israel is one part of the Lord’s army alongside many others.” This was indeed a battle that was “on earth as it is in heaven”; it was the Lord’s battle.

I think this is important for us to recognize. This battle ought not to be framed as Israel vs. Jericho but rather The Lord vs. those that rebel against YHWH. Joshua recognizes this reality right away and falls down to worship the Lord and ask him for his orders.

When the Lord with his sword drawn says “no” to Joshua’s framing of the question he reminds him and us who we serve and get our orders from. (To use “army” talk.) Within the Commander’s answer of “no” is the reminder of his grace, mercy, and love for Rahab and her family who are about to be spared. Rahab’s very existence should have foreshadowed this answer of “neither”. We see in Rahab a concrete answer that this is not a purely a matter of one ethnic / cultural tribe or clan (Israel) vs. another ethnic / cultural tribe or clan (Canaanites in Jericho). This is actually a matter of being for or against YHWH our God Most High. It is a question of who WE serve not a matter of who serves us. In the ancient world were many would hope to co-opt a god and have them do work on their behalf, YHWH brings to his people a different picture: the opportunity to serve him and worship him… to be brought into his army and do what he asks you to do… YHWH is owned by NO MAN. His “agenda” is no one’s but his own. His plan is a cosmic plan that is over ALL humans, spiritual beings, and creation both the physical realm and the spiritual realm. It is time we stop viewing God as working for us… and start bowing down, worshipping him, and asking him to tell us what to do. We are but a part of his larger army. We are but a part of his larger STORY. What unfolds before us here on heaven is just a piece or glimpse of a larger battle that unfolds. Joshua need not fear… and neither do we… for it is not our fight but the Lords! He has got this. He is the Lord of both Rahab and Joshua - and that has everything to do with their hearts and demeanor towards him not their human / ethnic / cultural past; hence his answer to Joshua’s question of are you for us or against us - “Neither”. In Christ, God is calling ALL people to himself from every tribe, tongue, and nation! He belongs to no nation. Love you guys. - JDP