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Bible story · Joshua 5:13–15
The Commander of the Lord’s Army
Read it yourself in the King James Bible: Joshua 5:13–15 ↗
“And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?”
Joshua 5:14 (KJV)The Story
Israel had crossed the Jordan River. Now the walled city of Jericho stood in front of them, shut up tight. Joshua was in charge of the whole nation, and the first real battle in the Promised Land was about to begin.
One day near Jericho, Joshua looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with his sword drawn.
Joshua walked up to him and asked the obvious question. “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” Whose side are you on?
The answer surprised him. “Nay.” Neither. “But as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.”
Joshua fell on his face and worshiped. Then he asked a better question: “What saith my lord unto his servant?”
The commander told him, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” And Joshua did it.
Reflection
Joshua wanted to know if this warrior was on his side. The commander wouldn’t answer that question. He wasn’t there to join Joshua’s army. He was there to lead it.
More Bible stories from Joshua. More about: Fear and Courage · Joshua
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Day 5 of Book 5
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