Joshua 5:15: “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.”

March 26th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The Commander of the Lord’s army revealed himself to Joshua, and Joshua correctly concluded that this was God and that he was to see himself as a servant so he fell on his face and worshipped Him. The Lord told Joshua, “Take off your sandals.” This act was a familiar sign of respect and submission, and appears in at least two other places when God revealed Himself to men. It happened to Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:10–21) and to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). In the presence of the Lord, these earthly places were suddenly transformed into hallowed ground and great humility was immediately required.

The fact that God chose to reveal Himself here to Joshua was further evidence that the conquest of the Promised Land was to be accomplished by God’s power alone and not by humanity’s strength. The army of the Lord, or hosts of heaven, also appears several times in Scripture. It is mentioned when Elisha’s servant was shown the Syrian army surrounded by the hosts of heaven (2 Kings 6:16–18). And again when Jesus said in the garden of Gethsemane that Father God would quickly dispatch “12 legions of angels” if Jesus requested it (Matt. 26:53).

Jesus is the Suffering Savior, but He is also the Commander of the Heavenly Hosts. Joshua was about to go into battle against the stronghold of Jericho. Joshua saw Jericho with all its fortifications and then he looked up and saw the Commander Jesus. Although Jesus stood opposite him, Jesus was not in opposition to him. Jesus had His sword drawn, and Joshua went to Him, bowing down in submission. Jesus told Joshua that He did not come to take sides but to take over. How we need to let our Commander take over again today in our own spiritual battles. We can only be effective in the spiritual battles of life when we submit to God’s presence and authority. We start in prayer by taking off our shoes as a reminder that there is to be nothing between God and us.

“LORD, we joyfully submit and surrender to Your Lordship in our lives again this day.”