The fact that Joshua had to ask the man standing before him whose side he was on – the Israelites or the Canaanites (v 13) – shows that it was only when the warrior spoke that Joshua realised who he was. Why do you think this was? The man who Joshua saw must have been an intimidating figure, standing there with a drawn sword. It must have taken a lot of courage on Joshua’s part to go up and speak to him. How would you have reacted if you’d been Joshua?

When the man said who he was Joshua did not question him further about his identity (v 14). No doubt his previous encounters with God speaking to him (eg Joshua 4:1; 5:2) meant that he was sufficiently familiar with God to recognise when the Lord was actually standing before him. Look at Joshua’s actions and words in verse 14. What do these tell you about his relationship with God?

The Lord’s words in verse 15 are reminiscent of his words to Moses in Exodus 3:5. Like Moses, Joshua did the only thing possible – he acknowledged where he was standing and who with by taking off his sandals.

‘Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.’¹ Thank him for this security. 

This passage reminds me of a common movie scenario where the duty guard spots a figure and calls out: ‘Who goes there, friend or foe?’ Joshua sees a man before him with sword drawn, ready to fight. Joshua’s question is obvious, yet the answer he receives is not. To say that God does not take sides would be difficult when he has already shown the miraculous way the Israelites will inherit the (occupied) land, but it reveals a God who is ‘I AM’. This God does not answer to man’s demands or selfish desires. His actions ‘for’ or ‘against’ are determined through relationship and the heart of man. God is for the lost, the downtrodden, the outcast and any who call on his name. 

We are left with little doubt that this is God before Joshua. In Scripture, the worship of the angelic is forbidden,² and the presence of the Lord renders it ‘holy ground’.³ Joshua shows us the correct response in God’s presence, as he falls down in reverence, offers himself in God’s service and shows total obedience. As humans, we like things to worship (statues, idols) and we tend to use inanimate objects to provide focus for our worship. The Ark of the Covenant has become one such object, sought by treasure hunters and clouded in unfounded mysteries, but here the message is clear: the box you’re carrying does not contain God, any more than the cloud, fire or the Holy of Holies did. God is not in a box. God is far bigger and greater and is actively fighting for you – so who can be against you? How often we try to contain God; try to get him to see our side or fight for our cause. God cannot be contained, but fights for those whose faith is in him.

‘I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.’⁴ Are we trusting in ourselves or in God?

¹ Rom 8:39  ² Rev 22:8,9  ³ Exod 3:5  ⁴ Isa 45:2