Kind of an interesting meeting . . . sort of a weird conversation . . . resulted in some less than typical behavior. It was an encounter between a commander and the Commander . . . it was an “either / or” question that received a “yes / no” answer . . . and it was a situation that merited doing that which ready soldiers didn’t often do. It was a meeting outside of Jericho . . . Joshua and Jesus getting straight on who’s in charge.

The transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua was pretty much complete. If there was any doubt that Joshua had been given the mantel of authority, it was erased when they crossed over the Jordan river. Under Moses, God had dried up the Red Sea as the people left Egypt . . . and now under Joshua’s direction they had crossed over the Jordan on dry ground as they entered the promised land (Joshua 4). In addition, the land had been spied out . . . the report back from the spies was favorable, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us” (Joshua 2:24). Leadership transferred . . . reconnaissance favorable . . . all that was left was the taking. Ah, . . . not so fast . . . one more thing . . . let’s be clear who’s in charge here.

Joshua’s out and about and sees a man “standing before him, with his drawn sword in his hand” (5:13). Strange. Shouldn’t have been one of his men . . . no need to have his sword drawn. So who was it? A Canaanite? An enemy? Well, ask him. “And Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us, or for our adversaries?'” Pretty straight forward question . . . it’s either / or . . . it’s one or the another . . . for us or against us . . . should be pretty simple to get to the bottom of this. But the answer would arrest him . . . more than that, it would drive him to his knees in submission . . . put him facedown in awe and worship.

“No; but I am the Commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” (Joshua 5:14a ESV)

Either / or question . . . yes / no answer . . . it’s not about whether or not I’m for you . . . it’s about I’m in charge!

That this was a pre-incarnate visitation of Christ seems clear. Messiah is the Commander of the army of the LORD. The One who one day, riding a white horse, will lead the armies of heaven against the enemies of God. The One called Faithful and True . . . in righteousness He judges and makes war . . . a sharp sword being wielded from His mouth . . . ready to tread the winepress of the wrath of God the Almighty . . . recognized by all as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:11-16). And on this, the eve of God’s chosen people starting the campaign to take the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Commander of the army of the Lord meets with the commander of the army of Israel . . . and gives a “No” answer to a “for us or against us” question. It’s not about how He would align with the purposes of Israel, but about how Israel would align with the sovereign intent of God . . . about who was in charge.

And face-to-the-ground before Him in worship, Joshua submits to His authority and asks the Commander, “What do you want me to do?” The answer? . . . “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy” (Joshua 5:15). Strange thing to ask of a soldier. A prepared soldier was a soldier with his shoes on . . . a ready leader was leader ready to enter battle at any moment. They were in enemy territory. It should be shoes on . . . swords at the side . . . prepared, at a moment’s notice, to fight the fight. But now, Joshua in complete submission, “stands down” . . . takes off his shoes . . . the holiness of the presence of the Commander taking precedence over the self-preparedness of a servant. Not about Joshua’s readiness, but about the Lord’s holiness . . . and believing that He’s in charge.

How often do I ask the wrong question? Wanting to know if the Lord will bless my agenda . . . whether He’s for it or against it. Instead, I need to be reminded that He’s the Commander . . . that it’s about aligning my will to His . . . not about an “either / or” response, but about my “Yes, Lord” state of heart. And when I recognize that, will it not drive me facedown as well . . . stripping away my self-preparedness, my misconceived self-sufficiency . . . gladly receive the grace to stand on holy ground . . . to abide in His presence . . . to trust that the battle is His . . . to know that mine is simply to remember who’s in charge?

I’m thinkin’ . . .