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?"
"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?"
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.
This lead in to the next chapter is brilliant. As a writer, I know how important it is to open with a hook, something that will keep your reader engaged and leave them wanting more. That is why I have been saying that reading the Bible, and in particular the Old Testament stories, will entice you for more.
The way God works in the lives of ordinary people, like Moses, and Joshua as well as you and me--well-- it takes my breath away. God sends the commander of His army to assist Joshua and prepare him for battle. When the angel told Joshua to remove his sandals, Joshua did so out of respect. He loved God and wanted to serve Him in every way he could. He was probably just a little bit awe struck himself.
Joshua obeyed out of respect and love. We should do the same. When we obey God's commands we are practicing humility and love. We are giving God what He demands and what He deserves. Our obedience can be as simple as loving and caring for our family members. Or, it can be as difficult and complicated as confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness.
Joshua's obedience brought God's Chosen People into the Promised Land. Our obedience will do the same.
Read Joshua 5:13-15 here
Listen to Joshua 5:13-15 here
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