Who Is God’s Enemy?

October 8, 2018 at 5:15 am 1 comment

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There is a fascinating exchange between Joshua and an unnamed man right before he fights the battle at Jericho. As Joshua is nearing the city and mustering his troops, he looks up and sees a man with a sword drawn in his hand. He asks him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The man replies, “Neither, but as a commander of the army of the LORD I have now come” (Joshua 5:13-14).

This exchange, though somewhat cryptic, is extremely revelatory. In this exchange, this man reveals who He is. He is part neither of Israel’s army nor of the army of Israel’s enemy. Instead, He commands the forces of God Almighty. In other words, He is not just a man. He is divine. This is why this commander echoes the words that God speaks to Joshua’s predecessor, Moses, from a burning bush. “Take of your sandals,” this commander says to Joshua, “for the place where you are standing is holy” (Joshua 5:15). This commander speaks the same words God once spoke to Moses because He Himself is God, who is now speaking to Joshua.

But the revelation that is given to Joshua in this man does not end here. For this man reveals not only who God is, but who God cares about. Before one of the biggest battles in Israel’s history, this commander comes to Joshua and tells him that He is not somehow blindly for Israel and against Jericho. But neither is he for Jericho and against Israel. Instead, He is for God who, ultimately, is for all. It is indeed true that God does rain down His wrath on Jericho’s sin in this story. But this does not mean that He does not love Jericho’s people. God is much more interested in saving people than in siding against them.

In our current milieu, I think it can be all too easy to forget that God cares about not only us, but those who we call “enemies.” But if we took the time to actually ask Him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” God’s answer might just surprise us. It might just be, “Neither.” God is much more interested in loving the world than He is in making enemies.

The next time you are tempted to hate your enemy, remember this commander’s interaction with Joshua. And remember the admonition of Jesus: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). And, most importantly, remember the action of Jesus: “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). Paul says that God’s enemy, before the cross, was you. So, ask yourself, “How did God treat me when I was His enemy?”

Go and do likewise with your enemy.