The Captain of the Host of the LORD - Joshua 5:14

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “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, Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”, and in chapter five and verse fourteen of the book of Joshua, we learn how how the man with the sword drawn said, “No; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come” where we read,

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 says my lord unto his servant?

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The verse reads, “And he said, No; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and he said, No” which means “and he, the man with the sword drawn uttered, declared and proclaimed, not and neither in any way”, “but as captain” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover as prince, ruler, leader, chieftain, official and noble” “of the host of the LORD” which means “pertaining to the army or company of soldiers belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and is the proper name for the One True God” “am I now come” or “am I, the man with the sword, at this time entered, enumerated and gathered”. Joshua or the writer shared how the man with the drawn sword identified himself as the ruler and leader pertaining to the army of Jehovah God, and for this reason, he came upon the scene. 

 

The verse continues, “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What says my lord unto his servant?” Joshua added the words, “and, Joshua fell on his face” or “and Joshua, whose name means Jehovah is salvation, cast down, and prostrated himself” “to the earth” which means “to the territory, land and ground”, “and did worship” or “and stooped and bowed down in homage and reverence”, “and said unto him” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked him, the man with the sword”, “what says my lord” or “whatsoever utters, declares and proclaims my, Joshua’s, Yahweh, master and the title which is used as a proper name of God” “unto his servants” which means “to his, the man with the sword’s, slave, subject, worshiper and bondman”? Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” cast himself down toward the ground, began to “worship” the man with the sword drawn and asked him what he wanted to “say” to him. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua responded to the “man with the drawn sword” as he bowed himself to the ground, began to give him homage and wanted to know what he wanted to say to him. This was Jesus Christ who presented Himself in advance of the battle in which “Joshua” was about to engage. In other words, God was with Joshua and the people of Israel. God is with us as well, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and constantly assure us that God is with us in whatever battles we encounter. (See Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20)

Next time we learn how Joshua or the writer says, “the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose your shoe from off your foot”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".