When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5:13)

Whose side is God on during the football game when coaches, players, and fans are all praying to the same God asking for victory?

Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, had a pivotal encounter that carries a profound lesson for us. As he was near Jericho, he saw a man with a drawn sword and asked, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" The man, revealed as the Commander of the Lord's army, responded, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come" (Joshua 5:13-14). This wasn't a dismissive answer but a profound revelation: God doesn't pick sides based on human allegiances. He operates based on His eternal, righteous purpose.

In disagreements, it's natural for us to want God to validate our perspective, to be on our "team." But the encounter between Joshua and the Divine Commander reminds us that God's alignment isn't with our limited, often biased, views but with His overarching plan for righteousness and justice.

When faced with conflicts, our prayer shouldn’t be "God, be on my side," but "God, guide me to be on Your side." It shifts the focus from seeking validation to pursuing divine wisdom and understanding.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father, in moments of disagreement and conflict, help me not to seek mere validation but true alignment with Your will. Remind me that You operate beyond human biases and preferences. Grant me the humility to seek Your perspective above all and the courage to stand for what aligns with Your righteousness. Amen.

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Reflection

1. In past disagreements, have you ever assumed God was on your side without seeking His guidance? How did that shape the outcome?

2. How can shifting our focus from seeking God's validation to understanding His perspective change our approach to conflicts?

3. In what areas of your life do you need to realign your perspective with God's?

Watch: Divided Disciples

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