Joshua 5:14, commentary and pictures

Near Jericho after the crossing of the Jordan and the Passover, Joshua alone met a tall man in war dress with a drawn sword, who answered that he had come not as a partisan but as Captain of the Lord's host to lead, and Joshua fell down in worship asking what his Lord commanded. The visitor was Christ Himself, the Son of God and not a common angel, the same One who had led Israel in cloud and fire as the Angel of Jehovah in whom is God's name. His command to remove the shoe declared the ground holy by His divine presence, as at the burning bush with Moses. He Himself with His angels threw down the walls of Jericho without human power, so the victory and its spoils belonged to the Lord alone and not to Israel's fighting or wisdom. That same Captain still leads His people in their warfare against evil, fighting for them, directing them, and giving strength and sure victory to those who submit, obey and trust Him.

Encounter Before Jericho

The meeting took place near Jericho at Gilgal, Israel's first encampment in the promised land. It came after the miraculous passage of the Jordan, the circumcision of the people in recognition of God's covenant, and the observance of the Passover. It came before the overthrow of Jericho and the command to keep from the accursed thing, standing before the march against Jericho and the conquest of Ai.

Joshua was alone apart from the army, meditating and praying for God's presence, when the Captain revealed himself to Joshua alone. He spoke only to Joshua, not to all the congregation, and Joshua afterward related the interview to the Hebrews. The people could not see the angel host led by the Son of God, so it rested with them to believe or doubt Joshua's words and to obey the commands given in his name or rebel against his directions and deny his authority.

The visitor appeared as a tall man in war clothes with a drawn sword. He came in human form with glory hidden, in the form of a man representing the Lord God of Israel's host. Appearing in full glory would have destroyed Israel's armies.

When Joshua asked whose side he was on, he answered that as Captain of the host of the Lord he was now come. He came not as a partisan under Joshua's command or as a human ally, but to direct the encounter and to lead. Joshua fell on his face to the earth in worship and asked what his Lord said to his servant, showing reverence, submission, and readiness to receive instruction.

He told Joshua to remove his shoe because the ground where he stood was holy, as with Moses at the burning bush. The order was given to impress on Joshua that the visitor was divine and that the place was made holy by God's glory. Just so the sanctuary is hallowed by God's glory, so that priests must leave shoes in the court lest dust desecrate the holy place and must wash hands and feet at the brazen laver by the tabernacle door before ministering.

Captain Is Christ Himself

The armed stranger is Christ himself, the Son of God, the Exalted One, and not a common angel. That Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, then asked what his Lord commanded his servant, proves the visitor was divine, for such worship could not belong to a mere angel. His presence made the ground holy and he came to lead, giving Joshua assurance and the plan for taking Jericho.

He is the same One who had led the Hebrews through the wilderness wrapped in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He is the Angel of the covenant, the Angel of Jehovah, Michael the archangel, the Angel of God's presence in whom is the name of Jehovah. God has at all times revealed himself to man through Christ, in the cloudy pillar giving the gospel to Israel and afterward in human form full of grace and truth.

He is one with God and the true Son of God, the Lord himself leading Israel's army, discomfiting the enemy and conquering on Israel's behalf. With divine authority and glory he reveals God as the eternal, unchanging, infinite and ever-present I AM, whose standard of purity, righteousness and love is the perfect guide for human practice and the prospect of immortal life in God's paradise. He is mightier than angels, commander of the armies of heaven, Captain of salvation, the Great General and mighty General who leads God's forces and fights for each person. Under his leadership God's people fight with angels from heaven assisting them as they strive for the unfading crown, and in answer to earnest prayer offered in faith he enters the struggle against Satan's forces, turns the battle and delivers the oppressed, while the Holy Spirit as his representative directs the battle and gives supernatural help.

One account describes him as an angel sent by God to minister and communicate to Joshua, come directly from God's holy presence bearing terrible majesty and power. The same heavenly Captain whose appearance caused Joshua to fall in worship later appeared at Christ's tomb as a mighty angel. Sent to announce the Father's call for the Son to come forth, he removed the stone before Christ's victorious resurrection, who died under the imputation of sin but was raised for justification, cancelling every charge.

Conquest of Jericho

It was not Joshua but Christ himself who accomplished the taking of Jericho, for as Captain of the Lord's host he came to lead the heavenly armies and with his angels was engaged in the conquest. He commanded the heavenly armies to throw down the walls and prepare an entrance for Joshua and Israel, so that angels under his leadership stood ready to help and the fall of the walls without human power displayed their presence. Under that leadership the angels of God laid hold of the massive walls and brought them to the ground, and even walls of unimaginable size would have fallen when the Captain led his angels to the attack. He came in person from heaven to lead the armies of heaven in that attack, to show Israel that the conquest of Canaan was not to be ascribed to them but to God.

The victory was the Lord's, not the result of Israel's fighting or of human wisdom and strength, but of God's power and word. The battle was planned so simply that no person could claim credit, and the unusual repeated march around Jericho was ordered to strengthen faith and teach obedience to the divine Leader even when no way could be seen that obedience would bring success. That ordering was meant to strengthen their faith in his power to subdue their enemies, to rebuke their former unbelief, to direct attention to the God of heaven, and to bring glory to God alone. Victory does not come through ceremony, display, or human methods but through obedience to God, who leads his battles in ways that can surprise the greatest powers on earth, and Israel was taught not to take the glory to themselves nor cherish self-exaltation.

Because the victory was his, the glory and the spoils belonged to him, with the spoils to be consumed except for the gold and silver reserved for his treasury. Achan knew this direction and stole from God. That command stood after the miraculous passage of the Jordan, the circumcision of the people, the observance of the Passover, and before the overthrow of Jericho and the command to keep from the accursed thing, as one of God's most direct warnings and mighty manifestations of his power that made transgression about the spoils defiance without excuse.

He alone could deliver Israel in the emergency, and he would have given them possession of the land thirty-eight years earlier if they had believed and trusted him. Israel could have entered Canaan much earlier, but disobedience in accepting the faithless spies' evil report and rebelling against God led to forty years in the wilderness. The same victory over the Amorites after Israel crossed the Arnon and took possession of their country would have been given thirty-eight years before had Israel trusted him.

In faithful obedience he went before the ark, the repository of God's law, and God brought deliverance. The ark was only a symbol of God's presence, not a source of blessing in itself, and its presence and deliverance belonged with an obedient, believing people, not with people relying on the ark as though it could itself secure God's help. Carrying it into battle while disobeying him could not secure his help, for the law beneath the mercy seat stood against sin and condemned them instead, so that confidence in the ark could not avert defeat, disaster, and death.

Jericho was a stronghold devoted to extravagant idolatry, made wealthy by God but giving its riches to its gods, corrupt and blasphemous and under God's judgment. Before the Captain as the Lord himself leading Israel's army, discomfiting the enemy and conquering on Israel's behalf, no mighty giants, walled cities, armed hosts, or rocky fortresses can stand. Neither giant armies nor fortified strongholds can withstand him, as proved when he vanquished the Amorites after Israel crossed the Arnon and when he gave Og king of Bashan with his immense army and his seemingly impregnable stronghold at Edrei into Israel's hand for complete destruction and possession of the land.

Reverence for Holy Presence

Joshua's falling to the earth in worship displays the awe, fear and honor owed to one who has come directly from God's holy presence bearing terrible majesty and power. When he understood whom he had seen and spoken with, he was struck with awe at such close contact with heaven and feared it would destroy him because of his exalted view of God. The honor rendered to the messenger because he came from God's presence proves that God himself is to be regarded with still greater reverence.

His name and the name of Christ are therefore to be spoken only with the greatest awe and reverence, never in a common, careless and irreverent manner. Speaking of God and praying to God Almighty as if he were a commonplace thing stands condemned. The Captain of the Lord's host still comes into the assembly and by his presence makes the place holy, calling for reverence, solemnity and worship. His people are to put away common and impure things and turn their minds to sacred themes, while cleanliness and order in the camp belong to fitting reverence for God and sacred worship.

The encounter teaches reverence before what is holy and sacred, and submission as his servant, since finite human powers cannot fully take in the things of God. Even as commander of Israel, Joshua met the message from heaven with humility and readiness to be directed, asking what his Lord said to his servant and what he commanded. Though standing in the highest position of honor, defying all the enemies of God with noble thoughts of his great mission, he placed himself as a little child to be directed, without boasting in position or mission. His meekness and readiness to be directed illustrate submission to God and the reverence and obedience due to the Captain as invisible Commander.

Leading Believers in Warfare

God's people fight under a Captain who leads the Lord's host, and with angels from heaven assisting them they strive for the unfading crown. He is just as much the Leader in the church's present battles against spiritual powers as when he led Israel through the wilderness, standing at the head of his soldiers to bring them to victory. Christ is present with his people in those battles, and angels cooperate as warriors and as ministers to those who shall inherit salvation and to the lost who must be sought and saved. Believers cannot overcome evil angels by human strength, for they face a vast confederacy of evil and must faithfully resist temptation, yet they do not fight alone because God and his angels fight with them as they do their part, and God's power gives the victory. His call is to go forward in spreading light and reaching people, acting in faith with confidence that God will do his part.

In response to earnest prayers offered in faith the Captain of salvation comes to strengthen his people in conflict, entering the struggle against Satan's forces, turning the battle and delivering the oppressed. His taking the field brings the power of God's grace that erects barriers against the wily foe and saves souls. God's people should pray fervently and continually, night and day, for him to take the field and lead in the Lord's cause. Instead of standing to criticize and question, doubt and oppose, fight against, sit in judgment upon and cast reflections on the ways and manners of the earnest, firm, determined, strong-feeling men God knows, sees, chooses and accepts to do him service and break against the barriers of Satan, they are to pray for him to work through those he has accepted and sent to help them.

He is mightier than angels, the heavenly commander who leads God's forces, and the Holy Spirit as his representative comes to direct the battle and provide supernatural help. The battle against evil is directed by that representative, and God's people do not fight alone because holy beings and angels help them. Those who trust God can receive strength despite weakness, and those who confess and forsake their sins receive forgiveness and the help they need. He is with his people in their battle against Satan and the powers arrayed against them, giving them the Holy Spirit that they may grow into his likeness and through his righteousness share the divine nature, bringing moral power that bridges the gulf made by sin and testing whether they will obey, so his presence is reason not to be discouraged.

He is the Lord as captain of heaven's armies, the exalted source of strength and courage for Christ's faithful soldiers, enabling them to overcome obstacles and stand boldly for what is right without yielding to fear. Confidence must rest in his presence and protection rather than in human wisdom or skill, for that confidence is essential in spiritual conflict. He is Christ who comes to lead and protect his people, who gave his life for their redemption, who is their only hope and cares for them, and through his strength they can be more than conquerors. He leads with the assurance that he has overcome the world and that victory is sure, and with Jesus as constant leader believers can undertake the work he plans and arrange themselves for it with confidence that every movement will be a victory.

Believers need the presence and directions of Jesus as Captain of the Lord's host, and are to follow his directions and have faith in him, for the victory belongs to God and brings glory to his name. They must look to him for orders and move forward faithfully as faithful soldiers, even amid hardship and opposition, without losing courage, hope or faith. This holds even when Satan seeks to destroy, annoy, hinder or oppose them, and words of discouragement dishonor their Leader. Loyalty to this Captain means remaining faithful and trustworthy, never handing the enemy the trust placed in God's people.

When they do their best and ask God for help, Jesus makes up unavoidable deficiencies, and their imperfect service is accepted because his righteousness is imputed to them. Faithfulness to one another and loyalty to Christ transform them into his character, and he dwells in their hearts by faith. He comes into the midst of his gathered people to take charge and give commands as he sees fit, and his people are to obey him. He comes thus to camp meetings where believers are blessed and the work advances, and as Captain who comes to lead he is worthy of worship.

He has authority over the work entrusted to him and watches over those who carry it out, so human interference is not needed. At Battle Creek the Lord's Captain watches over those entrusted with the work, and persons who are unstable and susceptible to evil influence should not interfere with or judge it. His call as mighty Captain is to go forward in spreading light and reaching people in faith that God will do his part. As Commander of the heavenly host and personal instructor and guide of Israel, he would have every youth learn practical work and a trade so as to be self-sustaining and useful.

Jesus Christ as Captain must be recognized as the leader, and those who follow him show obedience. He is the precious Leader on whom his servants are to depend rather than on any human being, and his grace and keeping power equip them for their work, while looking to Jesus brings daily wisdom for serving others. Those who work for God labor together with Christ and can pray in faith, trusting in his unfailing power. Keeping in step with the great Leader means recognizing truth unfolding for this time and taking part in proclaiming the first, second and third angels' messages, in which every specification of prophecy has been fulfilled, giving an experience of highest value for the perils of the last days. It means receiving the Spirit's influence and being willing to learn rather than clinging to fixed ideas.

Keeping step in God's order also means being careful in what is said and done. It means making no proud boast by precept or example that defies the laws of the land, making no resolutions about what persons in different states may do or may not do, and doing nothing to lessen individual responsibility so that each stands or falls to God. It means making no speeches among friends or enemies that arouse combativeness, cause words to be construed as rebellion to the government, and close the door of access to the people. He is the Captain of salvation and invisible Commander who directs through the Word, specifies the armor needed for the conflict, and provides supernatural help in human weakness. His followers are to obey his orders and fight under his banner against evil, not against one another.

He alone can win the victory against Satan and his allies because human strength is feeble, and winning souls to Christ requires persevering effort and concentrated, united labor to advance the triumphs of the cross. He who cast down the walls of Jericho with heavenly angels is ever ready to minister to the humble, meek and lowly, removing obstacles and saving souls. With true courage workers can therefore do a mighty work for the Master that when weighed in heaven will be pronounced well and faithfully done. That work requires bringing gold, silver and precious stones that cannot be consumed rather than hay, wood and stubble upon the foundation, laying aside independent judgment, self-esteem and making self a criterion, and esteeming others better than self.

Final Conflict and Connections

The Captain of the Lord's host comes to direct the Lord's battle, and in the coming conflict between truth and error the Lord's heavenly forces fight against satanic agencies. Believers are to join that battle and to trust him rather than rely on their own strength. He stands at the head of heaven's angels to direct the final battle, and his leadership with God's power sustains the faithful in the conflict and remains with them in their conflicts to the end. Christ as that Captain leads heaven's armies, joins the ranks of his people and fights for them, so the church does not fight alone. Before their Captain the walls of antichrist will fall.

As he tore down the walls of Jericho, God himself will work for Israel to give victory to his commandment-keeping people and cause the third angel's message to triumph. All opposing elements will be defeated, every lying tongue silenced, deceptive schemes overthrown by angels' hands, and the bulwarks of Satan will never triumph. The host of the Lord must gather with sanctified hearts to hear what the Lord will say to his people, armed and equipped to come up to the battle to the help of the Lord against the mighty, with increased light for all who will hear. His strong work through heaven-sent servants must not be complained against as too positive or too strong, for God will make the ears of hearers tingle and denounce those who resist his word if they will not heed his voice.

Christ, one with God and the true Son of God, comes to the world to save its inhabitants by meeting the satanic forces in the continuing conflict that began with Lucifer's rebellion in heaven. As Captain he leads the heavenly armies and stands in defense of his people, surrounding them like a wall of fire. As their Creator and Redeemer he has power over spiritual forces and alone judges their righteousness, rewarding obedience and judging transgressors according to their works.