14. Captain
Joshua 5:13 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing 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 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua and the nation are coming into the Promise Land. Just before they begin the conquest of Jericho by walking around the city Joshua meets the Captain of the hosts of the Lord. And he bows down to Him. Many believe this was a pre-incarnate Jesus.
Joshua, the new leader of the nation is faced with a huge enemy in the city of Jericho. We don’t actually know what he was feeling and thinking. Did he doubt his abilities? Did he wonder if people would follow him? Did he shrink inside at the prospect of Jericho? Anything is possible.
But what we do know is that he trusts God. He is a willing servant of the Lord. They had arrived in the Promised Land and there was still much labor and conquering to do. Even as they arrived they continued to trust God.
As believers we need to trust God daily. With humility and courage can we say with Joshua, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”