Joshua 5:15, commentary and pictures

Near Jericho just after Israel crossed the Jordan, Joshua withdrew to pray and met a majestic armed man, asked whose side he was on, then fell facedown in worship and was told to remove his shoe because the ground was holy. The Captain is no common angel but Jesus Christ himself in person, the same One who led Israel in the cloud and fire and who spoke to Moses from the burning bush at Horeb. The place was hallowed solely by His presence, so the removal of the shoe was required as reverent putting away of impurity where God's glory is revealed. The command marked that the overthrow of Jericho was Christ's own work with His angels, not Joshua's nor Israel's, so no human wisdom, might, or method could claim the glory. The same Captain still heads heaven's armies in the spiritual war against Satan and evil, and victory comes only as believers trust Him wholly, keep step with Him, and obey even when they see no way to succeed.

Setting and Circumstances

Joshua had withdrawn from the armies of Israel to meditate and pray for God's special presence to attend him, and near Jericho just after Israel had crossed the Jordan he met a majestic man of lofty stature in warlike garments with drawn sword. The majestic Being who confronted him was come as Captain of the Lord's host to take Jericho, and the order He gave marked God's holy presence.

The meeting took place at Gilgal amid Israel's first encampment in the promised land, where the Captain was revealed as chief in command of Israel's armies. It came after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, the circumcision of the people in recognition of God's covenant, and the observance of the Passover, and before the overthrow of Jericho. These events prepared them for conquest, and the appearance formed part of the direct and solemn warnings surrounding Israel.

When Joshua saw the armed stranger he asked whether he was for Israel or for its adversaries, then upon learning who He was he fell facedown to the earth, worshiped, and humbly asked for his Lord's word to His servant. He at once removed his footwear and did as he was told, showing awe, worship, and instant obedience as the right response to heavenly majesty. The ground where the Captain stood was holy ground.

The unseen General of Israel's armies revealed Himself to Joshua in human form with His glory hidden. Appearing in His full glory would have destroyed Israel's armies. The encounter thus assured Joshua that heavenly forces were present to bring down the walls and give the city to Israel.

Jericho was a wealthy stronghold devoted to extravagant idolatry and under God's judgment for its corrupt and blasphemous wickedness. The appearance was a mighty manifestation of God's power, with the Captain Himself come from heaven to lead the armies of heaven in the attack. It gave solemn weight to the warning that the victory, the city with all it contained, and its gold and silver belonged to God alone by the might of His own word and were reserved for His treasury, for He fought the battle and Israel did not strike a blow.

Identity of the Captain

The armed Stranger who met Joshua is no common angel and no mere man, but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in person, the Son of God, the Exalted One, God Himself working for Israel. He stood before Joshua with His glory hidden in human form. The ground was holy because Christ the Captain was present there.

He is the same One who conducted the Hebrews through the wilderness enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Enshrouded in that pillar of cloud He gave the gospel to Israel then, just as He later taught it from the mount of beatitudes. He was revealed to the prophets as the Angel of the covenant, the Angel of Jehovah, also called Michael the archangel, because God has given His revelations to man in all ages through Christ.

He is the Lord God of Israel's host, the eternal unchanging God, holy, whose authority and glory are revealed in the Old Testament. As the divine leader of Israel's army He defeats its enemies, as when the Lord defeated Og and his forces and gave their land to Israel. His character is marked by truth and purity, and His standard of purity, righteousness, and love provides the perfect standard for human conduct and the prospect of immortal life. The unseen General revealed Himself in human form because appearing in full glory would have destroyed Israel's armies.

The same voice that spoke to Joshua spoke to Moses at the burning bush at Horeb, and the same command to remove the shoe on holy ground revealed the Stranger's divine identity. The command, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot, was given to convey to Joshua's mind that the One speaking was no less than Christ. Joshua's worship and that command together marked the Captain as Christ, the Exalted One who had led Israel through the wilderness and now instructed Joshua before Jericho. His acceptance of that worship further revealed His divine identity.

Holy Ground Calls for Reverence

The ground where Joshua stood was holy because Christ Himself, the Captain of the Lord's host, was present there in person with His glory hidden in human form. For that reason Joshua was commanded to loose his shoe from his foot as an act of reverence and removal of impurity where God's glory is revealed, and he did so. The command called him to reverence before what is sacred, for God's presence makes a place holy.

That holiness is the same holiness that hallowed the sanctuary. Priests never entered the place sanctified by God's presence with shoes, lest dust and particles clinging to them desecrate it, but left their shoes in the court and washed their hands and feet at the brazen laver beside the door of the tabernacle before ministering before the Lord, lest they die. All who enter where God's glory is revealed must therefore make special preparation to remove impurity before approaching.

Ancient believers who learned they had seen one direct from God's holy presence were struck with awe and feared they would die, as with Gideon in Judges 6:22-23 and Manoah in Judges 13:21-22, because they had exalted views of God's terrible majesty and power and thought close connection with one from His holy presence would destroy them. Joshua himself, on learning the armed man was Captain of the host of the Lord, fell facedown to the earth, worshiped, humbly asked for his Lord's word to his servant, and at once removed his footwear because the ground was made holy by that presence. If a messenger or angel coming from God's presence to minister and communicate was thus feared, honored, and obeyed, God Himself is to be regarded with still far greater reverence. That reverence condemns common and careless use of the names of God and Christ in speech and prayer and requires reverent use of His sacred name.

The command teaches approaching holy and eternal things with humility, recognizing that finite human understanding cannot fully take them in, and reverently submitting to God's presence and living oracles. No mortal is given the burden to sit in judgment upon inspiration, to decide what in the Word of God is inspired and what is not, to state what degrees of inspiration attend one utterance and what is wanting in another, or to cut and carve the sacred Scriptures with human wisdom. To do so is to lay an unauthorized hand on the sacred ark of God, to become exalted and venture where God never gave leave, to do a work the Lord never committed to mortal minds, to be led astray by the enemy, and to stand under God's displeasure and condemnation.

Awareness that the Lord is present should bring greater dignity and solemnity in assemblies and council meetings, restraining long loud speech and turning people from common and impure things toward what is sacred and holy. God's people should also keep their encampments clean, wholesome, and orderly, treating them as sacred places where they desire the Captain's presence.

Victory at Jericho Belongs to God

The command to remove the shoe marked that the taking of Jericho was Christ's own work and not Joshua's as leader of Israel, and the conquest of Canaan was not to be ascribed to Israel but to God. The Lord alone is to be magnified, with no glory taken to self, no self-exaltation cherished, and with remembrance that no one has anything different or better than others except what God has given. The plan He gave as the mighty General was simple, leaving no person able to claim glory for the victory.

Christ Himself overcame Jericho with His angels, commanding the armies of heaven to throw down the walls and prepare an entrance for Joshua and the armies of Israel. He came Himself from heaven to lead the heavenly host in the attack, and under His leadership angels laid hold of the massive walls and brought them to the ground. Angels under His command stood ready to bring Israel into Canaan, showing heaven's army could act without human strength. He who cast down the city's walls is joined by heavenly angels ready to assist the humble and remove obstacles.

After proving His identity, Christ instructed Joshua what course to pursue, that all the men of war should compass the city once each day for six days and on the seventh day go around seven times. The encounter assured Joshua that heavenly forces were present to bring down the walls and give the city to Israel, so he could trust God with the burden of its capture and follow His instruction. What followed was to be carried out by supernatural forces rather than left to human management.

He revealed Himself and spoke only to Joshua and not to the whole congregation, so the people could not see Him or the angels with Him. It rested with them to believe Joshua's report of the interview and obey the commands given in the Captain's name, or to doubt, rebel, and deny his authority. This tested faith and obedient submission through God's chosen servant. Strength is not in human wisdom or might but only in the God of salvation, putting self out of the question and relying wholly on the divine Leader, with the long delay of daily marching and trumpet-blowing before the walls fell serving to increase faith.

The miracle displayed God's power to defeat Israel's enemies, strengthened His people's faith in His power to subdue them, and rebuked their former unbelief. He would have given Israel victory thirty-eight years earlier if they had trusted Him, showing the Lord alone was their helper and deliverer. But rebellion after the faithless spies' report brought forty years of wilderness travel before they could enter Canaan. The same divine Commander personally vanquishes the enemies of His people, as when Israel crossed the Arnon and took the country of the Amorites.

When Israel walked in obedience, the Captain went before the ark, the repository of God's law borne by holy men according to His express command, and then His arm brought deliverance for them. That was the divine presence vouchsafed to an obedient and believing people, not the mere symbol of that presence. It stands in wide contrast to following own plans in opposition to divine counsel and authority while looking to the ark for blessings God alone can bestow, while the law under the mercy-seat condemns disobedience to defeat, disaster, and death.

Christ Leads the Spiritual Battle

The Captain of the Lord's host is the leader under whom believers fight spiritual warfare, and that warfare is against evil and Satan's powers and satanic agencies, not against brethren or the Lord's anointed. Heaven's angels assist those who so strive for the unfading crown, so God's followers do not fight alone. He is the Captain in heaven's conflict against Satan and his rebellious angels, who comes to save the world from that same warfare. He takes the field with heavenly beings to battle Satan's powers and fight for God's people, leading the heavenly host as a wall of fire around them, and before Him the walls of antichrist fall.

He stands at the head of heaven's angels to direct the battle, and this leadership extends to the final battle and last conflict when evil powers fight fiercely. There He joins His people in their ranks and fights their battles for them. He supplies the faithful with hope and courage and strength and leads His cause to triumph. God's people cannot overcome Satan and evil or darkness in their own strength, but must rely on the Captain, trust Him, have faith in Him, and have Jesus with them. Victory does not depend on ministers or laypeople but on Christ as the Captain of salvation, who fights for believers as they humble their hearts.

His representative the Holy Spirit comes to direct God's people in their spiritual battle. Those who trust God receive the imprint of the Spirit and strength against the forces of evil. Victory attends the third angel's message, for the same Captain who tore down Jericho will give commandment-keeping people the same victory. The bulwarks of Satan will never triumph, every lying tongue will be silenced, deceptive schemes will be overthrown by angels' hands, and all opposing elements will be defeated.

He is the Great General and chief in command of Israel's armies, the leader of God's work and battle. As constant leader He plans the work, arranges the battle, and leads forward to victory. Jesus gave His life for redemption, and as Creator and Redeemer He cares for those who look to Him for salvation and strength, alone judges their righteousness, and knows all that concerns them.

Follow and Obey the Leader

Joshua was to obey even when he could see no way the command could bring success, for victories come through obedience to God and not through ceremonies, display, or reliance on human methods. Those who heed the call of Jesus Christ as Captain of the Lord's host to follow Him show the fruit of obedience.

God's people need Jesus with them, must follow His directions, and must have faith in Him, for the Captain gives direction as He gave it to Joshua. The call to go forward applies that command as a summons to advance the work in faith, trusting that God will do His part when His people act. He is the Leader of God's people, and they must look to Him for orders, remain faithful, and move steadily forward despite Satan's efforts to destroy, annoy, or hinder them. Jesus is present with His people and directs their work, and they must follow His directions and trust Him to accomplish what they cannot by their own strength. Keeping step with that divine Leader includes receiving the imprint of the Spirit.

Keeping step with Him by moving in God's order means being careful what is said and done, making no proud boast by precept or example that defies the laws of the land. It means making no resolutions about what persons in different states may do or not do, doing nothing to lessen individual responsibility, and leaving each person to stand or fall to God. It means making no speeches among friends or enemies that arouse combativeness, cause words to be construed as rebellion against the government, and close the door of access to the people.

The Captain comes into the midst of God's people when they gather and gives commands as He sees fit, and the right response is to obey Him. His leading is to be prayed for fervently and continually night and day, instead of criticizing, questioning, doubting, opposing, and sitting in judgment upon the earnest, firm, determined men God has chosen, accepted, and sent to do Him service and to make a break against the barriers of Satan.

He has charge of the work at Battle Creek and watches over the individuals to whom that work is entrusted. He needs no interference from jealous, suspicious men who are like the waves of the sea, tossed to and fro and subject to evil angels. All heaven is interested in the work, while Satan and his evil angels are arrayed against it, and men who co-work with those evil angels are to be no judges of it. His authority as the one in charge and watching over those entrusted with it means unstable people who oppose the work have no place interfering in it.

The Great General of armies is the leader of the church's work, and its human managers must act under His authority and be guided by the principles of God's Word. Jesus Christ is that Captain of the Lord's host, and those who work for Him are laborers together with Him, relying in faith on His unfailing power. His presence and direction require His people to follow His directions and trust Him to accomplish what they cannot by their own strength.

He is present with and protects those who trust God and obey His commands. He leads God's people in battle, and the appeal is to pray for God's power and for the Captain to take the field against Satan. He takes the field with the power of God's grace to save souls and to stand against the wily foes in the conflict that grows fiercer as Satan works to deceive.