“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7, ESV)

This is often presented as using God’s name when cursing. However, it is much more expansive than that. In fact, the primary sin in this commandment would be to claim God’s will for doing what is your personal preference.

Scripture tells us “God is for us” (Romans 8:31), but that’s only because we have received the gift of salvation through His Son. When we move to the realm of proclaiming, “God is on my side,” we move to a self-centered approach. We think God exists to make us happy, and we lose sight that we were created “for” Him, not the other way around.

Joshua found this out as he was doing a reconnaissance of the city of Jericho.

“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?’ And he said, ‘No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped.” (Joshua 5:13-14, ESV)

Did you catch that? Joshua encounters the Commander of the army of the Lord! Not knowing who He was, he asked the “either/or” question. “Are you for us or the enemy?” and the Lord’s response was, “No!” This is what Bible scholars refer to as a “pre-incarnate appearance” of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know this is not just an angel because of what He said next to Joshua:

“And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, ‘Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:15, ESV)

Sound familiar? Remember Moses approaching the burning bush?

“Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5, ESV)

Like Joshua, we often ask God “either/or” questions, when the reality is God wants us to come stand on holy ground and receive His wisdom and direction as Joshua did.

“And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, ‘What does my lord say to his servant?’” (Joshua 5:14, ESV)

The next time I think about asking God an “either/or” question, I think I’ll first assume a position of worship and, like Joshua, ask, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

Unlocking the True Meaning of the Thrid Commandmant, Jordan Peterson (1:16)