“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverance, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so (Joshua 5:13-15).
 |
| photo by Andy Lee |
“Neither.”
That’s what the angel said. He was not there to pick favorites or sides. He was not for Joshua or Jericho. His mission was from God Himself. That was the angels only choice of sides. I wonder if Joshua’s heart skipped a beat when the angel told him he was not fighting for him. I wonder if any smallest bit of assurance in himself as a favorite of God’s was whisked away by the angel’s answer. Mine would have been.
What did this answer mean for Joshua? It actually caused Joshua to choose his side. Was he for himself or God? I’ve often had to remember this in my own life. I confess sometimes confusing my desires for God’s.
What happened next is my favorite part.
The message given to him was for him to take off his sandals because the ground was holy. What makes a place holy? Answer: The presence of God.
Moses was barefoot beside a talking burning bush. Joshua sandal-less in the presence of the commander of God’s army.
Jesus.
It was a choosing moment. A knowing moment. And Joshua knelt shoe-less before His Lord and worshiped.
Go barefoot today. If possible get on your knees. And worship.
God has a message and a job for you and me. Who knows…maybe we’ve got some walls to crumble.
Much grace and peace,
andy
