Picture this: you’re standing on the threshold of a daunting conquest in enemy territory. Anxiety teems around every corner, and then a mysterious figure appears—an imposing warrior wielding a sword, declaring that you are on holy ground.
Your immediate reaction would be to draw your own sword and ask, “Are you friend or foe?”
That’s exactly where Joshua found himself in Joshua 5:13–15.
On the eve of battle, Joshua came face-to-face with the Commander of The Lord’s Armies.
For those following our series so far, this is yet another tantalizing clue pointing to a Christophany—an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament.
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Let’s step into Joshua 5.
Joshua has taken the mantle of leadership after Moses and is seeking answers about what to do next. The Promise Land was so close yet so far, shadowed by the Walls of Jericho.
Do the children of Israel storm the fortified city? Do they try and march around? Either way, it’s a risk.
Then, in the stillness of dusk, an Angelic figure emerges. He’s clad in armor with a sword glinting in the fading light. Joshua then asks the question we would all ask: “Are you for us, or for our enemies?”
You’d think the answer would be simple. If this Angel is truly from the Lord, wouldn’t he reply with, “I’m for you and the nation of Israel.”
But he doesn’t… This man replies with, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” Upon hearing this, Joshua immediately falls on his face, worships, and asks for orders.
The question isn’t whether God is on our side, it’s whether we are on his side.
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Commanders typically reflect authority, but this commander tells Joshua, “Remove your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
This is a haunting echo of the burning bush moment in Exodus 3:5. Joshua isn’t speaking with your run-of-the-mill angel—he’s speaking to Jesus.
In other passages, angels typically protest worshipful behavior, pointing the glory back to God. This warrior, however, doesn’t shy away.
Many theologians suggest that the pre-incarnate Christ could appear in various roles. When He does, Scripture often uses terms like “angel” or “messenger” simply to emphasize that He comes in service to the Father’s will.
CONSIDER THIS:
Have you been so busy asking God to be on your side, that you’ve forgotten to align yourself on His side?
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The question becomes: Why would Jesus show up with a drawn sword, ready to lead God’s people into battle?
Because in every generation, God stands as a defender, a guide, and a champion of His people.
While we might think of gentle Jesus, meek and mild, the Bible equally reveals Him as a conquering King, fierce and unrelenting against evil.
This same Commander is later described in Revelation 19:11–16, riding a white horse, sword at His side, robe dipped in blood, as He leads heavenly armies. The Joshua account hints at that same unstoppable authority.
The message is impossible to miss: the battle belongs to the Lord. When God calls, He doesn’t abandon us at the foot of an impregnable fortress; He shows up, sometimes in unimaginable ways, to ensure the victory is His.
And even now, the Commander’s sword is drawn, ever ready to stand between His people and the forces that oppose them.
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