Joshua and the Angel
Let’s take a look at a short but very interesting passage from the Book of Joshua.
Joshua 5:13-15
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
So our question is who was that man?
Some commentators say it was an angel, some say it was the Lord himself, others have no clue at all. These days having a clue speaks of knowledge, and being clueless speaks of ignorance.
So what is a clue? Encarta says this:
clue [kloo] (plural clues) noun
1. aid in solving mystery: something that helps to solve a mystery or crime
Encarta® World English Dictionary ©
So a clue is not the answer, but an aid to finding the answer. Something that points to the answer is a clue.
In our example there are several clues for those who notice them.
1. Speaking of Joshua, it says he lifted up his eyes.
2. Also in verse 13, Joshua goes up to the man and speaks to him as someone he already knew. He does not ask who he is but what is he doing there. With a drawn sword.
3. Next in verse 14 the man gives an answer that reveals something about himself and just who he is.
4. Upon receiving this revelation Joshua does three things, he falls face down to the ground,
5. he worships and
6. he addresses the man as Lord, and the one who he serves.
7. The man tells him to loose his shoe
8. and the man tells him he is on holy ground.
9. Joshua instantly obeys.
To support the idea that this man is the Lord, lets look at each clue from the viewpoint of a believer.
1. He was looking up, speaks of being mindful of heavenly things, and seeking the Lord.
2. He knows the man, but only somewhat, after all Joshua spent a lot of time in the tabernacle in the Lord’s presence so he knew him up to a point. Joshua knew the Lord already.
3. He asks what the man is doing, because he held a drawn sword. The Lord was preparing for battle against Jericho.
3. The man reveals something more of his nature, he is a war leader! This is like the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
4. Joshua falls on his face in awe at the new revelation. John in the final book of the bible, the revelation of Jesus Christ knew Jesus very well. But in the first chapter of Revelation, Jesus appears in a totally unfamiliar form. John is awestruck, and falls over.
5. Joshua worships this man. Only the Lord is to be worshipped.
6. Joshua acknowledges him as Lord. So this identifies the man as the Lord.
7. He is told to loose his shoe just as Moses was before the burning bush, this also identifies the man as the Lord.
8. He is told he is on holy ground, also as Moses was in Exodus when the Lord spoke to him.
9. Joshua’s obedience is the expected behavior of someone receiving such revelation.
Now let’s look at the clues from a skeptical point of view.
1. Joshua was looking heavenward: All this means is Joshua was wondering about the weather.
2. Joshua knew lots of men,
3. he was just wondering why the sword was drawn.
4, 5, and 6. Joshua here is really worshipping an angel by mistake. It’s some warrior angel, that is no proof that he was the Lord.
7, 8. and 9. In Exodus, Moses was only worshipping an angel too. So none of this really proves beyond a doubt that the man was the Lord.
To be even more skeptical you could say this.
And besides that it doesn’t prove the man was an angel either. If the Bible says it was a man, then is has to be a man. As for Joshua’s actions, he could have been drunk or high on loco weed.
OK so what’s the difference between the believer and the skeptic. The believer takes the clues which are not really proof, just aids in solving a mystery, and then he gets a revelation from the Holy Spirit. And it’s the revelation that makes all the difference. The skeptic has the same clues available to him, but he is not looking for clues, not really paying attention to what he reads, and so the written word of the Lord doesn’t sink in because of lack of Faith.
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
The skeptic is a victim of spiritual blindness. Is it any wonder that someone can study the bible for years, and still not be able to answer Jesus’ question, Who do you say that I am?
Part Two
Joshua Meets The Man or
What’s It All About Alfie
Bill Somers
Mount Gilead Ohio USA
March 30, 2009
Exodus 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Picking up from Who Was That Masked Man, let’s ask ourselves the next logical question. What is he doing here?
One way of inquiring of the Lord when it comes to bible study, is to keep asking questions.
Our first question is why is he here? To get to an answer, there are some intermediate things we can ask.
Why does this take place before Jericho?
Why does he have his sword drawn?
If Joshua knows him, why does he ask him, whose side are you on?
If Joshua approaches him as an old buddy, why does he suddenly fall on his face and worship at his feet?
The book of Joshua on the surface tells of how the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land and drove out their enemies and claimed their inheritance. The deeper meaning of the book relates to the end times and the church entering the promised kingdom of God.
The 40 years wandering in the desert represent 4000 years since Abraham, the 2000 cubits in Joshua 3:4, speak of the 2000 years since the time of Jesus. Crossing the Jordan represents death to self. The circumcision of the people is the cutting off of the flesh. This story of Joshua Meets The Man expresses some of the same ideas in a condensed form.
Why does this take place before Jericho?
This takes place before Jericho because it illustrates what must happen before we become ready to fight the end time battles.
Why does he have his sword drawn?
The sword is the word of the Lord. Seeing that the sword is withdrawn from it’s holster tells of the revelation of the Word. You don’t really know what a sword looks like while it’s still in the scabbard. It’s the same with the word of God. You won’t know the inner meaning till the Spirit reveals it. This is seen figuratively as the opening of the sealed book, mentioned in Revelation 5. It speaks of The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
What is the significance of him holding the drawn sword in his hand?
We have a similar scene in 1 Chronicles 21 that gives the meaning. In this context the Lord is bringing judgment upon his own people at Jerusalem. So this relates to Judgment beginning at the house of God, and the fact that God’s people are witnessing these judgments being carried out. Notice where David and the elders fall on their faces, once they see this, like Joshua did. The sackcloth here is a sign of repentance.
1 Chronicles 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
If Joshua knows him, why does he ask him, whose side are you on?
There are two ways to answer this.
One speaks of division in the church where the denominations are at war with each other. [Civil War in the Church] So the question becomes what denomination are you with? And the Lord’s answer, Nay, but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come, is a way of saying I’m not here to take sides, I’m here to take over. It is also a way of saying I’m not for any denomination, I’m here to take charge and eliminate the denominations to bring my body into unity.
Two is the idea that God’s judgments against his own house will be severe like they were against Jerusalem in David’s time. This will be to the point where we will wonder if in fact God is for us or against us.
Fear of the Lord
If Joshua approaches him as an old buddy, why does he suddenly fall on his face and worship at his feet?
Joshua now sees the Lord in a completely new way, and acquires a profound Fear of the Lord. That is Joshua [as the church] receives a deep and profound revelation of the Lordship of Jesus. It is this Lordship of Jesus which is the rock upon which the church will be built. The revelation of Jesus Christ.
But how can we talk about the church, and turn around and say the church has yet to built? It’s one of those elements they call paradoxical truths.
Here are other questions that express similar problems.
How can we talk about the Kingdom of God, when the King is not around and everybody does just what they feel like? Or How can we claim to be the Family of God, when we’re just an episode of Family Feud? And how can we be the Sons of God, when we do not honor the Father’s name or reveal his nature to the lost world? Or can we fight the battles as the army of God, when nobody in hearing the General’s voice? How can we be the body of Christ when the parts are not assembled and not attached to the head? Or how can we be the temple of the Holy Ghost, when we ignore or reject him? And how are we to be the spotless, chaste Bride when we will do anything for money? All of these have one answer. We must receive the Fear of the Lord and this comes with presence of the Lord.
All these elements are basically the same. The Church, The Kingdom, The Family, The Army, The Body, The Bride, The Temple, The Sons of God, The congregation of the Lord, the Called out ones, the chosen generation, the Holy race, the peculiar people, the new Jerusalem, the spiritual Israel, the heirs of the promise. It’s looking at different aspects, or expressing truth in different terms. Each one is connected to another like a side of a polygon, or facet of a jewel.
Why does Joshua say What saith my lord unto his servant?
Here Joshua’s immediate reaction to the New Revelation is a desire to serve the Lord. Paul had the same reaction on the road to Damascus when he says Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?.
Why does Joshua worship at his feet? And why is that holy ground?
The bible speaks of worshipping at his feet, a place of holiness.
Psalms 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
Exodus 3 tells of Moses seeing the Lord and being told to loose his shoe because he is on holy ground. Also see Exodus 3:8 quoted above which mentions that the Lord is now come down. .
Why does the Lord say am I now come when we know he is always with us?
Here it means the Lord is coming in a new and powerful way. This is not just a visitation but the beginning of the habitation. This is the start of a permanent manifest presence. It’s the Latter Rain coming, that must happen before Jericho, the end time battles. He comes to judge, purge and purify his people to make them ready by dwelling among them. This is the beginning of the Kingdom here on earth. He will use the fear of the Lord and the revelation of his love to eliminate all the paradoxes we mentioned.
This is how he will put his family in order.
This is how he will muster his army.
This is how he will build his church on the rock.
This is how he will take back his Kingdom and reign as King.
This is how he will assemble his body.
This is how he will inhabit the Temple, his place of rest.
This is how he will make his bride holy and pure.
This is how he will make us become the Sons of God.
This is how he will conform us to the image of Jesus.
This is how he will get us to where we delight to do his will.
This is how he will bring in the harvest and redeem his people Israel
Recap
Before God’s people can fulfill their destiny in the end times certain things will have to happen.
When [and only when] the Church sees God’s judgments actually being carried out, she will begin to truly inquire of the Lord. Then the Lord will reveal himself with awesome power and irresistible holiness. This brings the church into the Fear of the Lord. This is a place of repentance, worship, holiness, joy and obedience. It’s the true beginning of the Kingdom of God on earth, and the millennial reign.
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