Scripture Focus (Joshua 5:13-15) – “13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have 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 And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”
I. Joshua’s Private Worship (Joshua 5:5:13)
A. Where the leader was looking (Joshua 5:13a) – “When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked…”
B. Where the Lord was standing (Joshua 5:13b) – “…behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand.”
C. What the leader was wondering (Joshua 5:13c) – “And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”
Joshua wanted to know if this one would run with him, get behind him, or fall under him.
II. Joshua’s Necessary Humbling (Joshua 5:14)
A. Joshua learned his own rank (Joshua 5:14a) And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.”
B. Joshua learned an important posture (Joshua 5:14b) – “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped…”
C. Joshua learned the most important question (Joshua 5:14c) – “…and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
III. Joshua’s Promotion to Win the Wars (Joshua 5:15)
A. Promoted to follow the Lord’s leading (Joshua 5:15a) – “And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua…”
B. Promoted to hallow the Lord’s presence (Joshua 5:15b) – “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so.”
C. Promoted to conquer the land (Joshua 5:6:1) – “Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. “