Day 6 – John 5:13-15

¹³ 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?” ¹⁴ “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?” ¹⁵ 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. ^[1]

Who was this man standing in front of Joshua? Obviously he was someone with whom to be reckoned because he held a drawn sword in his hand. Was he an angel? To suggest such is to contradict the historical tradition. In the Bible whenever an angel was encountered and a human bowed to worship them they would be admonished to refrain from their veneration because they were created beings just like humans. In this instance there is no such admonition because Joshua’s encounter with the Captain of the Lord’s host was a Christophany, an encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ at Jericho.

This pre-incarnate Christ posed a problem for Joshua. Joshua was in the region of Jericho checking out the fortifications of the enemy. What he saw, the high walls and consolidation of their resources on the inside were already of concern to him, so now when he sees this man with a drawn sword and an authoritative stance he wants to know whether he is for or against Israel? The man’s response was as interesting as his appearance. He was neither for the Israelites or their enemy, but he was there to take over. It was as if God was speaking saying, “Don’t worry about what I am doing Joshua, do what I have called you to do.”

The experience of Joshua reveals a profound truth, when in the will God rest in the assurance that the battle belongs to the Lord. Consider the Israelite challenge. They were not a seasoned fighting force. They had never encountered an enemy of the caliber of what they would confront at Jericho. The proof of their lack of military skill was evidenced in their massive defeat by little Ai in the aftermath of their victory at Jericho when God had deserted them because of the sin of Achan. The only way they would overcome the challenge at Jericho was if God came and took over. The man with the drawn sword, this pre-incarnate Christ, was present to let Jericho know that he did not have to be anxious because God Himself would fight this battle. Know today that Your greatest mission is to get in and stay in the will of God, and that when you do you will be victorious because the Lord Himself will fight your battles.

Dear Lord, thank you for fighting my battles. Forgive me for my moments of doubt and unbelief. Forgive me for forgetting that vengeance belongs to You and You will repay. Forgive me for forgetting that You never commit us to a task that You do not equip us to accomplish. So help me to rest in You and in the knowledge that today You are fighting my impossible battles for me. Amen.

© 2014 – Dr. James H. Logan, Jr.