WHO ARE YOU?
Opening Prayer
Holy are You, Lord. I wait silently in Your presence today.
Read Joshua 5:13–15
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 prince of the host of Jehovah 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 prince of Jehovah’s host said unto Joshua, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Reflect
Think of a time when you had a meaningful encounter with God. What was it like? What did you do?The fact that Joshua had to ask the man standing before him whose side he was on – the Israelites or the Canaanites (13) – shows that it was only when the warrior spoke that Joshua realized 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 (14). No doubt his previous encounters with God speaking to him (Joshua 4:1; 5:2) meant that he was sufficiently familiar with God to recognize 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 with Whom by taking off his sandals.
Apply
How have you experienced the holiness of God? What is your response when you know you are standing on holy ground? What will your response of worship be today?
Closing prayer
My God… I am speechless in Your presence. Speak to me now and show me just another glimpse of how great You are.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
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