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The Scriptorium

Holy Ground

As with Moses, so now with Joshua: holy ground.

Joshua 5 (6)

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “AreYou for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant? ”Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5.13-15

Reflect.
1.  Does this incident remind you of any previous incident or incidents in Israel’s history? What seems to have been the purpose of this encounter?

2.  Look up the word theophany. What does this mean? Is this a theophany? Or is this an angel? How can you tell?

Think about it.
It seems Joshua was by himself when this encounter occurred. The text is clear that Joshua saw a Man. Immediately he wanted to know whether the Man was for Israel or for the Canaanites.

The answer was: neither.

The Man before Joshua was the Commander of the army of the LORD. The word army is, in the Hebrew, host. The host of God, all which is at the Lord’s disposal for fighting His battles, is greater than Israel or the Church, and includes all the angelic hosts who do the Lord’s bidding, as well as all the creation which serves the purposes of God (Ps. 119.89-91). The Commander of that host, the One Who has authority to direct the efforts of all the Lord’s host, is He Who has allauthority in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28.18).

This encounter is a theophany, a manifestation of God to man in a visible and recognizable form. This particular theophany is of the Word of God, the second Person of the Trinity, Who would ultimately become incarnate as our Lord Jesus Christ. Now He presents Himself to Joshua as the Commander of the Lord’s host (cf. Heb. 12.1, 2). Joshua immediately understands this to be a manifestation of God, and he falls on his face to worship, as he should. He makes himself the servant of the Lord, Who is always and only about His purposes, and asks what his Lord requires of him.

In the Lord’s answer, it’s almost as if Joshua’s question is reversed, and Joshua must demonstrate whose side he’s on.

The answer Joshua receives recalls Moses’ encounter with God forty years earlier (Exod. 3), and reveals what God most requires of those who would serve Him: they must get close to Him, and they must partake of His holiness and yield themselves entirely to Him.

The Lord has no specific instructions for Joshua as to battle tactics or military strategy. Joshua needs to stay close to the Lord, to know Him in His holiness and to wait for His Word. If he will do this, the Commander of the Lord’s host will never fail to lead and direct and prosper his labors.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  Why were Moses and Joshua required to take off their shoes? Was it because their shoes were dirty? Well, weren’t the rest of their garments dirty as well? Was taking off the shoes a means of their more directly partaking of the holiness of the Lord? What would be the equivalent for us?

2.  The Commander of the Lord’s host made it clear that His loyalty was to God and His will. He seems to have been challenging Joshua in some way. Explain.  

3.  The message to Joshua is clear: Stay close to God! How is this message relevant for us today? How do we fulfill it?

“For every heavenly army, whether angels or archangels, whether powers or ‘dominions or principalities or authorities,’ all these that were made through him, wage war under the chief himself, who is the chief of chiefs and who distributes sovereignty to the sovereigns. For he himself is the one who says in the gospel, “Have power over ten cities,’ and, to another, ‘Have power over five cities.’ This is the one who has returned after accepting the kingdom.” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

Lord, You call me to walk holy ground every day (2 Cor. 7.1). Help me in this calling, Lord, so that today I will…

Pray Psalm 35.1-10.

As you pray these verses, think about the day ahead, and seek the Lord’s help in specific challenges and opportunities.

Psalm 35.1-10 (Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Contend, O Lord, with those who strive with me; 
My shield, my strength and buckler be!
Engage with spear and axe to fight
And rescue me with all Your might!
My soul with Your salvation soothe, 
And vanquish all who oppose Your truth. 
Let those ashamed and humbled be
Who would destroy and humble me.

Let all my foes be blown like chaff, 
And let Your angel take my behalf; 
No cause have they to hide their snare
Or for my fall a pit prepare.
Upon them let destruction fall; 
Disperse, destroy them one and all!
And let the net which they have made
Be for their doom and judgment laid.

Thus shall our souls rejoice in You
And hold Your salvation ever true.
Our bones as one aloud shall cry, 
“Lord, who is like You, enthroned on high, 
Who cares for those too frail and meek
To save themselves when they are weak?
Who rescues His afflicted ones
When foes their warfare have begun?

T. M. Moore

Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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