Exodus 23:22 says: “But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” That is an awesome and sobering thought: that God would be an enemy to those who are your enemies, and an adversary to those who are your adversaries. But, as with many Bible promises, there is a condition attached to this, and it is one strong condition: you must “truly obey His voice and do all that I say.”

It was not that Israel, to whom this promise was given, could do anything they wanted and still know that God would destroy their enemies. Rather is was up to them to make sure that they themselves were on GOD’S side. If they were, then they could be assured that their enemies, would be God’s.

We have that same challenge. It is not, as we often like to imagine it, that God is waiting to line up on “our side.” Rather, it must be our constant effort to make sure that we are lined up on HIS side. It is like the days of Joshua, when he saw the man with a sword in his hand, and asked him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” He answered, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” (Joshua 5:13-14) If we will make sure that we are obediently attuned to God, and on His side, then we can be assured that we will both have the same enemies. For the sobering truth is, if you are not obeying God, then YOU TOO have placed yourself in position to be an “enemy” of God!