November 1, 2024

Joshua 5:13-15 (HCSB)
Commander of the Lord’s Army
13 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?” 14 “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?” 15 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 so.

Sharon Coppock
For every bit of boldness Moses didn’t have as a reluctant leader, Joshua had twice as much. I believe I would have sent someone else to check out the intimidating man with a drawn sword. I might have used the excuse that I was too valuable to lose should they be an enemy. Joshua approached without hesitation. He recognized this man’s authority, but this wasn’t just any man or even any angel. This was our Lord Jesus Christ. Joshua, knowing his utter humanness, humbles himself in submission to the ultimate Commander and says, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?”  love how the NLT phrases it. “I am at your command...What do you want your servant to do?” How well would my life go for me, my husband, my children, and for all those in my community and beyond if I simply submitted myself in the same way.