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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Joshua 5:15
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.
That is exactly the same thing that God said to Moses at the Burning Bush (see Exodus 3:5).
I’m sure Joshua would have known and remembered. There at the Burning Bush God revealed some of His glory to Moses before commissioning him to go and lead the Israelites out of Egypt - here God revealed some of His glory to Joshua before commissioning him to go and lead the people of Israel across the plain of Jericho, through the city and into the Promised Land.
I don’t know about you, but every time I read this passage, shivers go up my spine. It appears Joshua had gone out on his own to look at Jericho. To size up the situation. The spies had been sent, the report-back received, the Jordan crossed and now the fighting would have to begin.
So Joshua, the great military commander, goes out to contemplate and make plans. As he walked, he found himself confronted by a ‘Man’ with a drawn sword. Whether Joshua was armed or not, we can only speculate, but his natural reaction was to determine whose side the man was on.
What a wise man. He didn’t go straight into battle and find that they were on the same side. How often we rush into fights, when in fact we discover we are fighting someone who is on our own side. We would do well when confronted to relax a little and find out the facts first. We might find we have to fight far fewer battles and end up hurting fewer people.
I love the reply. “Neither,” he replied, “but as the commander of the army of the Lord I have come.” A fuller translation is “As commander of the armies of the Lord of Hosts.” In other words - “I command the hosts of heaven. That mighty unnumbered Army of God. What is more: I’M NOT HERE TO TAKE SIDES; I AM HERE TO TAKE OVER. You may be very proud of your little army but let me tell you something - You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Yes, had Joshua been proud, this would have been a direct challenge to him. But quite obviously he wasn’t. He meekly replied - “What message does my Lord have for His servant?” Joshua knew when he was in the Presence of his God. He willingly and with joy handed over command - he took off his sandals and listened to the advice he was given. I think Joshua was delighted. It was further confirmation for him that he was not in charge; he was not the leader of these people - but God was. All he had to do was be available and obedient.
That is something we all need to learn. We are not great. God is. God takes the simple, the foolish and insignificant to accomplish His great plans so that none may boast before Him (see 1 Corinthians 1:27-29). We must never think we achieve anything in our strength or because of what or who we are. The gifts He gives us to accomplish His work are just that - gifts. I cannot claim them as mine. I have no claim over them nor can I reproduce them. They are God-given.
Whatever you are doing today - remember the Man with the drawn sword - He is here to take over.
Our job is to take off our sandals, listen and obey - Do what He says.
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