Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua 5:13-14 (NIV)

In these verses Moses has already led the Israelites to the Promised Land. However, he dies and Joshua has taken over. It is up to him to lead the people into the land promised them. However, the fortified city of Jericho stands at the border of this land. The city must fall before they can enter. Joshua goes off by himself as he ponders and prays what to do.

Joshua encounters a man who identifies Himself as commander of the Lord’s army. In reply to Joshua, he says he is neither on the side of Joshua nor the armies of Jericho. This seems strange as God surely told Moses to go into this land.

During the War Between the States, Abraham Lincoln was supposedly asked if he thought God was on his side. Lincoln replied, “Sir, my concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
No matter how noble our cause; no matter how right are minds tell us we are; no matter how much scripture we quote; we must always make sure that we are on God’s side and handling our affairs in a way God wants.
In particular, we must remember that everyone who hates who we hate is not our friend. The times and tides change, but the will of God does not. In everything we must be keenly aware of what side we truly are on.