God Is On Your Side!
God Is On Your Side!
In Joshua 5:13-15, the man Joshua encounters is identified as the "captain of the host of the LORD", and while he is described as a man, many interpret this encounter as a theophany, a visible appearance of God, rather than an ordinary angel.
The Encounter: Joshua, near Jericho, sees a man standing before him with a drawn sword, and asks if he is for Israel or their adversaries.
The Man's Identity: The man identifies himself as "captain of the host of the LORD".
Joshua's Response: Joshua kneels and worships the man, recognizing him as a divine being.
The Command: The man instructs Joshua to remove his sandals, as he is standing on holy ground, echoing God's command to Moses at the burning bush.
Joshua 5:1 Joshua 5:13-15 NKJV
1.So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until [a]we had crossed over, that [b]their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”
14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”
15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.