“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul asked the Romans. Great question. How do we know if God is for us? In my lifetime, Presidents have often brought spiritual leaders like Billy Graham into the White House on the eve of a great battle. The implication is: God is for us in this battle. God is on our side. This tradition goes way back. King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah called in Micaiah to ask if the Lord was for them when they prepared to battle an enemy (1 Kings 22).
Still earlier in the history of Israel, on the eve of the battle against Jericho, Joshua ran into a soldier with a drawn sword. Looking at this mighty warrior, Joshua knew this person would be on the winning team in the battle. So he asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?" “Neither,” the warrior replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.” In Tony Evans’s words, the angel said, “I have not come to take sides. I have come to take over.” Joshua fell facedown and asked, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” “Take off your sandals for you are on holy ground,” the angel answered. Wisely, Joshua obeyed.
Our God can not be bought or manipulated. We can not put him in our debt by something we do. God never owes us anything. We know for sure that he will win the battle. If we can’t get God on our side, perhaps our best thought is to get on his side. As Moses once asked, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” (Exodus 32:26). When we know that God is near, that he is right here, we fall on our face, ask what he wants and do what he says. How do we know God is for us? He did not spare his only Son but gave him up for us all. God has proven on a cross that he is for us. Are we for him?
