Captain of the Lord of Hosts – Joshua 5:13-15
Here is an audio link for today’s post.
“God’s ways are not our ways.” That simple sentence has almost been reduced to a cliche’ hasn’t it?
But this statement is so much more than a human expression. It is an undeniable truth, straight from the Word of God. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
For Joshua, today’s true story is simply one more demonstration of God’s authority in action. It is a contrast between God’s divine plan and the faulty plans of frail human beings.
Here is a little summary, just for context.
- God freed the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage. (Exodus 1-19)
- God gave them His law with which to guide their lives. (Exodus 20)
- God provided every need for the people. Exodus – Deuteronomy
- They rebelled and doubted God. (Numbers 13-14)
- They wandered for forty years until a whole generation of people had died out. God led the new generation to the promised land. (Numbers 14:33)
The years of wandering have finally ended. Canaan was in sight. But there was an obstacle. The Jordan River stood between them and the land of promise.
Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass …and the people crossed opposite Jericho. The priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
Joshua 3:15-17
Do you see the similarity to another Old Testament story? (Exodus 14:21-31)
And now the people are faced with their first battle. How can they defeat the impenetrable walls of Jericho and begin to take possession of Canaan?
Every righteous victory always comes through the mighty power of God. Devoted believers know that obedience is how we honor God. We overcome the strongholds of this life through Him alone.
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 approached him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“Neither” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.”
Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in homage and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant?”
The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did that.
Joshua 5:13-15
The reason most Evangelical Bible scholars believe that the man was the pre-incarnate Christ, is because of how He identified Himself to Joshua. “…commander of the Lord’s army.”
If this had been merely an angel of the Lord, Joshua would have been reprimanded for bowing to him in reverential honor. Believers only ever bow in reverent submission to God or the Lord Jesus.
Then, the man tells Joshua that he is standing on holy ground. Joshua was in the Prescence of Almighty God, Jesus.
Do you recall another scripture about being on holy ground? (Exodus 3:5)
If you guessed Moses, then you are correct. (The story of the burning bush that was not consumed)
I hope that you will take the time to read the whole story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. Here you will see God’s grace extended to a very unlikely heroine.
Rahab is not even Jewish. She is a pagan and a prostitute. But her faith in God led to her name being a part of God’s amazing story. She is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:5 and in the great Hebrew Hall of Faith. Hebrews 11:31
Rahab’s story was one of the first Seed Basket Devotional blogs. You can find it in this link. A Smoldering Wick and a Bruised Reed.
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Isaiah 52:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
King James Version (KJV)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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