Joshua 5:13 – 15 “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?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
It’s one of the strangest stories in the Old Testament, one that has raised questions ever since it first happened. Who was that man with the sword in his hand? Some people think that was Michael, the Archangel, and the guardian angel of the Jews. Others think that this might have been Jesus. Either explanation might seem reasonable; however, Joshua’s act of worship would indicate that this man with the sword was God in some form. Angels never received worship, although people did faint before them in terror and awe. When Moses encountered God in the burning bush, God ordered him to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the Commander of the Host, so it is logical to assume that this man with the sword was Jesus. Later on, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, a fourth man appeared walking in the fire with them. Many believe that man was Jesus.
By the time Joshua had this encounter, Joshua and God knew each other. Joshua was on Mount Sinai with Moses. Later, Joshua accompanied Moses into the Tabernacle, and when Moses would leave the Tabernacle, Joshua would remain. Joshua was one of two spies who urged the Israelites to enter the Promised Land the first time, insisting that God could easily conquer the giants they had seen there. It is quite likely that Joshua prayed and worshiped regularly; certainly, he ensured that the Israelites celebrate the Passover once they entered the Promised Land. When ordered to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground, Joshua did so at once.
Joshua asks a great question, “Are you for us or against us?” Faced with a man who obviously had power, Joshua needs to know what is going on. Perhaps the local gods are more powerful than Joshua realized and this man with the sword is a manifestation of one of them. But the man gives a puzzling answer: “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” During the Civil War, a group of men called upon President Lincoln. One of them said:” Mr. President, we trust during this time of trial in which the nation is engaged, God is on our side, and will give us victory. Lincoln is said to have replied: “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” The question here was not whether God was on the side of the Israelites, but whether the Israelites were on God’s side.
David Guzik in his Enduring Word Commentary argues that this man with the sword was indeed Jesus and says this: “Joshua’s total submission to Jesus Christ shows that he knows who is really in charge. It also is a virtual guarantee of victory for Israel. When we follow after the Commander of the army of the LORD, how can we lose?
i. Why did Jesus come to Israel at this strategic time
· He had come to instruct Joshua in the plan to capture Jericho. Joshua will carry out a plan in the following chapter that is so improbable it could only have been initiated at the direct command of God.
· Most of all, He had come to conquer Israel – before Israel could conquer anything else in the promised land, they had to be conquered by God – and Joshua’s total submission shows that they are conquered by Him. This is the missing element in a life of victory for many Christians; they have not been, and are not continually being, conquered by God.” (David Guzik, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/joshua-5/)
As the commander of the Israelites, Joshua represented his entire nation; therefore, when Joshua totally submitted, he was acting on behalf of all the Israelites.
APPLICATION: WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? Many of us might be incensed if someone dared to hint that we were not on God’s side; however, the question is vitally important. Mike Warnke, a Christian comedian tells of a time when he first began evangelism that he was trying to copy every famous evangelist he knew, but nothing was happening. Finally, Warnke went to God in prayer and asked a question: “God, what are YOU doing wrong?” God answered, “It’s not me, it’s you.” God went on to show Mike that Mike had been trying to do his own will in God’s name. Mike asked God, “So what’s the difference?” God answered simply, “Results!” If you are trying to follow the Lord and not getting results, perhaps you had better pray and ask God if you are doing your own will in God’s name.
There’s a country Gospel song that says, “Too much thunder and not enough rain! Too many programs and not enough praying! Too many people making too many changes, like too much thunder and not enough rain.” (Dixie Melody Boys, “Too Much Thunder”) When we fail to pray and submit ourselves to God before we act, we are headed for disaster.
Joshua needed that encounter with God so that he would not start dreaming up battle plans on his own. Only God could design the plan that would bring down the walls of Jericho, because only God knew where the earthquake faults were and how susceptible the mud brick walls would be to collapse. In Joshua 6 God gave Joshua marching orders that still sound bizarre when we read them. But Joshua had already worshiped and submitted himself to God.
Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Today, why don’t you find a quiet place and ask God to show you what HE wants you to do. But make sure you are truly submitted and be prepared for surprises!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Help us to seek Your will and to trust Your leading. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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