“God is on our side.” For those who take their religious affiliation seriously, it is so easy to make this claim about God. If I am faithful to the teachings and practices of my faith, I may have ample reason to believe that God is looking out for me.
The psalmist ponders: “What if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger” (Psalm 124.2–3 NLT). And doesn’t Paul himself raise the question: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8.31) The Message version even renders the verse: “With God on our side like this, how can we lose?” And we straightaway take this to mean that God is on our side fighting for us, advancing our cause. The application of this meaning then slides into the idea that, as a church or a supposedly “Christian nation,” our endeavors will receive the stamp of God’s approval. He will fight for us and we will ultimately emerge victorious.
But that God is “for us” does not necessarily mean that he is backing all our efforts and undertakings. Only one thing is sure, he wants what is best for us. And what is best always aligns with his purpose. Sometimes he may stand in the way of our self-devised schemes, to keep us from self-destruction. His blessing may sometimes mean the failure of our plans!
Scripture gives the account of Joshua as he prepares to lead the people of Israel in their attack against the city of Jericho. Upon encountering a man with a drawn sword, he confronts the stranger: “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The man replies: “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” (Joshua 5.13-14) “Neither,” he says! In other words, the man speaks on behalf of God. And through him God is saying, “I am not taking sides according to human perceptions and categories. I am the Lord, and I will do what is in keeping with my plans and purposes.” Even those who may lay claim to the title “people of God” do not have any claim over God himself (as though God had no choice but to bless them).
That God is for us is really about God’s freedom and initiative to bless undeserving sinners. It’s not about some mysterious hold that I may have on God that obligates him to watch over me, and even defer to my plans.
Here’s the truth: The world does not revolve around me. For only God has the right and the authority for that position in all creation. I adjust to him and his purpose. It really is not about whether God is on my side. The question of true importance is: “Am I on God’s side?”
—Keith Y. Jainga