When Joshua Met Jesus - Joshua 5:13-15

What You Read

On March 21st you read for your devotions & .

The Employment Point was: "Proclaim the good news about Jesus to all people.”

Tonight we are going to look at

Tonight’s Outline

You will be given time to study and work-through the passage using the F.I.R.E. method

We will review your findings togetherI will show you my “work” on setting this passage on F.I.R.E.

I will quickly take you through the passage verse by verse looking at some employment points & principles.

I will take you through the passage verse by verse

You will learn what this passage teaches about God, and how you should react based on that information

Using F.I.R.E.

Pastor Ken created the method of F.I.R.E. in order to understand a passage.

The letter F stands for familiarity.

This is when you read the text and ask questions to better understand the passage.

read, ask questions, and become familiar with the passage

The letter I stands for interpretation.

This is when you try to understand the meaning of the text. You answer the questions you asked which interprets the author’s intent for this passage.

simply explain the passage

The letter R stands for relationship.

This is when you look to see the relationship of this passage with other passages.

how does this single passage relate to it’s context, book, and entire Bible

The letter E stands for employment.

What is the timeless truth in this passage. How can we take that truth and employ it in our everyday lives?

How can we take that truth and employ it in our everyday lives?

how can I employ the timeless truth from this passage?

Available Books in My Library I Recommend For This Lesson!

David Jeremiah: The Jeremiah Study Bible

David Jeremiah: The Jeremiah Study BibleJohn MacArthur: MacArthur Study Bible & The MacArthur NT Commentary (On loan from Pastor Ken)Merrill Tenney: The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the BibleWalvoord & Zuck: The Bible Knowledge Commentary Warren Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentarybtw: feel free to bring your own books or resources!

John MacArthur: MacArthur Study Bible

Merrill Tenney: The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible

Walvoord & Zuck: The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Warren Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

btw: feel free to bring your own books or resources!

Set On F.I.R.E.

We have more time tonight, so try to work through this passage!

Familiarity

Where is Jericho - what information should I know about this city? - Verse 13

Who is the Man? - Verse 13

Why did this Man have a sword? - Verse 13

What does the title Commander of the army of the Lord imply? - Verse 14

Why does Joshua worship this man? Isn’t that a sin? - Verse 14

Why does Joshua call Him Lord? - Verse 14

Why does the Commander tell Joshua to remove his shoes? - Verse 15

Commander of the army of the Lord

Interpretation

Question #1 - Where is Jericho - what information should I know about this city? - Verse 13

Here’s a basic map of the area surrounding Jericho. Jericho is only 17 miles from Jerusalem.

Here is a video that gives some basic background on the city.

Here is what the city looks like today… Here is what it could have looked like back then.

Some information you want to know...

‎Ancient Jericho (reconstruction). Archaeological excavations reveal that Jericho was violently destroyed sometime toward the end of the Bronze Age. The walls seem to have been thrown down by sudden force, as if by an earthquake. Charred wood shows that what was left of the city was burned. Excavators have also found food supplies buried in the destroyed city, which shows it was not captured by siege.

Question #2 - Who is the Man? - Verse 13

He defines Himself as the Commander of the army of the Lord. This would imply that He is some kind of Angel.

He also allows Himself to be worshiped by Joshua. This means that He is more than just a simple messenger (the word angel means messenger) for angels always forbid being worshiped. ; ;

There is only one Angel that ever allowed Himself to be worshiped and that is The Angel (messenger) of The Lord. This Angel can be defined as:

The Old Testament figure who acts as a direct representative of Yahweh and may be an embodiment of Yahweh Himself in human or angelic form.

The Old Testament figure who acts as a direct representative of Yahweh and may be an embodiment of Yahweh Himself in human or angelic form.

Speliopoulos, E. B., & Mangum, D. (2016). Angel of Yahweh. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

I believe the Angel of the Lord is the pre-incarnate Jesus.

Wiersbe writes,

Be Strong 3. Reaffirming the Lord’s Presence (Josh. 5:13–15)

This paragraph records one of the pre-incarnation appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the Old Testament. To Abraham the pilgrim, the Lord came as a traveler to share in a friendly meal (Gen. 18:1–8). To Jacob the schemer, He came as a wrestler to bring him to the place of submission (32:24–32). The three Hebrew men met Him as their companion in the furnace of fire (Dan. 3:25), and Joshua met Him as the Captain of the Lord’s armies. Our Lord always comes to us when we need Him and in the way we need Him.

This paragraph records one of the pre-incarnation appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the Old Testament. To Abraham the pilgrim, the Lord came as a traveler to share in a friendly meal (). To Jacob the schemer, He came as a wrestler to bring him to the place of submission (32:24–32). The three Hebrew men met Him as their companion in the furnace of fire (), and Joshua met Him as the Captain of the Lord’s armies.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Strong (p. 65). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The Faithlife Study Bible adds to this definition,

Question #3 - Why did this Man have a sword? - Verse 13

Also called the angel of God, the angel of Yahweh appears to be distinct from Yahweh at times (). Other times, He appears as a visible manifestation of Yahweh (). He served as a guide for the Israelites after the exodus (), fought for Israel, defeating entire armies (), and gave messages to individuals like Moses (), Balaam (), and Hagar ().

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Question #3 - Why did this Man have a sword? - Verse 13

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

with His sword drawn in His hand This phrase occurs only two other times in the OT (Num 22:22–23; 1 Chr 21:16). In these instances, the sword-bearer is the Angel of Yahweh

This phrase (with His sword drawn in His hand) occurs only two other times in the ot (; ). In these instances, the sword-bearer is the Angel of Yahweh

This phrase occurs only two other times in the ot (; ). In these instances, the sword-bearer is the Angel of Yahweh

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

It was symbolic of the fact that the Angel was ready to strike down the wicked people in Canaan.

You might remember in which God is foretelling the future to Abraham. God said,

Genesis 15:16 NKJV

16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

God was telling Abraham that the Amorites had not yet filled up their cup of wickedness - so it was not time to judge them. But now, in the days of Joshua, the Angel shows up with His sword drawn showing that the time has come to strike the Amorites and others with God’s justice!

The time of God’s grace had past - it was now time for justice!

What does the title Commander of the army of the Lord imply? - Verse 14

Walvoord gives helpful insight that sheds light on this question...

What kind of a military force did this divine Commander lead? The “army of the Lord” was surely not limited to the army of Israel though it may have been included. More specifically, it referred to the angelic host, the same “army” of heaven that later surrounded Dothan when Elisha and his servant appeared to be greatly outnumbered by the Aramean army (). In the Garden of Gethsemane at the time of His arrest, Jesus referred to this heavenly army when He said that 12 legions of angels were ready to defend Him (). In they are described as “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” Though invisible, they serve and care for God’s children in times of great need.

Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 339). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Why does Joshua worship this man? Isn’t that a sin? - Verse 14

Worshiping an angel is a sin:

8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Revelation 22:8–9 NKJV

8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind...

Colossians 2:18 NKJV

18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Matthew 4:10 NKJV

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

These verses teach us that we should only worship God - this goes to show that the Angel of the Lord was more than an Angel - He was God Himself - for only God should be worshiped!

Why does Joshua call Him Lord? - Verse 14

Joshua is wise enough to understand that this Messenger is more than a mere man! Remember, Joshua had been in God’s presence multiple times with Moses - so he understood he was standing before deity.

The term Lord was a term of respect.

When Joshua met Jesus, He fell to his knees, worshiped, and called Him Lord!

Why does the Commander tell Joshua to remove his shoes? - Verse 15

In - The Angel of the Lord appears to Moses in the burning bush and tells him to remove his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground. Then, The Angel gives Moses His marching orders.

In - The Angel of the Lord appears to Joshua, and tells him to remove his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground. Then, The Angel gives Joshua His marching orders.

You can make the connection!

Relationship

Three simple relationship points I want to show you

The context – Joshua had just crossed the Jordan and was trying to figure how he can take out Jericho!

We already covered many of the references to Jesus and the Angel of the Lord

Notice what the writer of Hebrews wrote about this:

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

Employment

The Timeless Truth Is:

Worship The Commander of The Lord’s Army – For In Him We Have Victory!