The key text is Joshua 5. In the first 12 verses, we find Joshua, the leader of Israel, having just crossed the Jordan. He's just recently taken over from Moses, the man who really is the Old Testament Messiah of the Jewish people (if you look at the parallels between the Old Testament and the New Testament, it's really easy to see why the Jews of the 1st Century AD were looking for a socio-political messiah.. the parallel they had in Moses brought them physically out of slavery and physically up to the borders of the new land)
Now, Joshua has a big challenge ahead of him. If you go back to the story of scouting the Promised Land, Joshua and Caleb went in together, they saw what they were going up against. When they came back, they didn't say "Aw, guys, there aren't really giants, and they cities aren't that well fortified, and the people look impressive, sure, but they're really not all that strong". They said "we can take possession of the land, we will swallow up the people there, because their protection is gone, and the Lord is with us".
So Joshua is facing a strong enemy, and this as one of his first tests of leadership. He's in command of a mighty force (so mighty that the people in the land are afraid of Israel), and he's just been shown to have God's favor by the crossing of the Jordan during flood stage. But we know he's nervous, from the exchange in Joshua 1 ("Be strong and courageous").
So he decides to do this whole thing the right way. Between crossing the Jordan and beginning the conquest of the land, we see him purify and circumcise his whole force (which, interestingly, is a very dangerous thing to do when in a hostile land, when you consider the story of Genesis 34), and he celebrates the Passover. I'm sure there are military preparations in there too, but Joshua is covering all his bases.
So the twist comes in verse 13.
At this point, Joshua is either scouting out Jericho, or since he's already sent the spies, he may very well be leading his column for the actual attack on the city.
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.
Ok, hold up, everything is off now. Joshua knows this isn't one of his scouts, he'd recognize him. And this guy, whoever he is, is apparently blocking Joshua's way with a drawn sword. Not really a good sign. Joshua makes a pretty logical next step...
13b Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
Makes sense, right?
14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."
Whoa. Neither. Didn't see that coming. Now, if Joshua was asking, "are you one of us or one of them?", this answer would make sense.
But that's not what Joshua asked.. he knew that this chap standing in front of him wasn't one of his men.
At this point, God (the commander is often believed to have been pre-incarnate Jesus) steps in and says that he is neither for Joshua, or against him. Doesn't fit nicely into our little Christian mold that God is always for us and that all things work for our good, does it?
14b 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.
God is reminding Joshua that while he is not necessarily on Joshua's side, Joshua is on His side, that Joshua is acting to fulfill God's will. The scripture goes on to show God's plan in action as Joshua defeats the defenders of Jericho, the most impressively defended city at that time in Canaan (as shown by the archeological record)
I wonder if we often make this mistake, of assuming God to be on our side.. The question we really need to ask is if we are on God's side. Are we serving God with our actions? Are we working to accomplish his ends? Or have we decided that these challenges are our own, and we simply need Divine help?
My 6 cents. Inflation is getting ridiculous
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