The Next Chapter

Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?" He replied, "neither; but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, "What do you command your servant, my lord?" The commander of the army of the Lord said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so. -Joshua 5:13-15

This is an interesting passage. The only other passage that asks someone to remove their sandals because they were on holy ground was when Moses was in the presence of God. The scene is retold in Acts by Stephen before he was stoned, but it is the same story. So now Joshua is told to remove his sandals because he is on holy ground. However the person doesn't claim to be God, but the commander of the army of the Lord. Who would you think was the commander of the army of the Lord that would make the ground holy? Some Christian scholars believe it was Jesus.  It also symbolizes that this is an important new chapter beginning in the lives of God's people and shows that God is with Joshua every bit as much as he was with Moses.

One other thing I noticed was that when Joshua asked this person if he was "one of us or one of our adversaries," the man answered, "neither." Think about that.

God of Our Next Chapters,

As our children begin a new school year, as Houston and neighboring towns begin to rebuild after floods, as families begin new lives with the birth of babies, as families begin new lives missing those who have gone to be with you, as those inflicted with disease begin treatments that can save their lives; we ask to feel you sure presence with us, so much so that we feel compelled to remove our shoes on holy ground. Amen.