Joshua 5:13-6:5 THE CAPTAIN’S CAPTAIN
1. The Place of Revelation. 13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho,
Practically :- The ancient city of Jericho was a very well-built, walled city. It was surrounded by 2 massive stone walls. The outer wall was 6 feet thick and 20 feet high. The inner wall was 12 feet thick and 30 feet high. There was a 15 foot guarded walkway between these two walls. From a military standpoint, it was practically impenetrable.
Psychologically :- The walled city of Jericho stood as a physical and psychological obstacle between the people of Israel and them claiming the land God had promised. Before they could move deeper into Canaan, the walled city of Jericho first had to fall.
Spiritually :- It represents things that prevent us from going deeper with God.
2. The Period Of Revelation. 13 when Joshua was by Jericho,
This incident bears a remarkable similarity to that of Moses at the burning bush
Ex 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
God appeared personally to each of them as they began their work for Him. And in both incidents the Captain of the Lord’s host said, “ Loose thy shoe from off thy foot, for the place whereon thou standest is holy.”
The people were now encamped between the Jordan and Jericho. They could not go back because of the Jordan and they could not go forward because of Jericho.
Retreat was impossible and advance was difficult.
3. The Person Of Revelation.
behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand:
A. There Is A Supreme Person - “The Captain of the host of the Lord.”
Joshua came face to face with Jesus Christ! - This speaks of Salvation.
Before we can ever enjoy victory in our journey, we must first commence the journey. 14 and Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship,
B. There Is A Supreme Position - He is the “Captain of the Lord’s host.”
That is, He is the One Who is always victorious, and in control of all situations.
This speaks of Sanctification. We must come to the place where we recognize that if there will ever be any victories in our life, they will come about because of His power.
We must understand that we are to yield to His power in every area of our lives and that we are to trust Him to secure the victory for us in every battle we fight.
Sanctification is us acknowledging Him to be Lord in every area of our lives.
14 “ What saith.” That’s God’s Word.
“ My Lord.” That’s God’s Will.
“ His servant,” That’s God’s Work.
C. There Is A Supreme Power - 15 And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot;
This speaks of Surrender. - “Joshua, I didn’t come to take sides, I came to take over!” This is a call for Joshua to surrender to the authority of the Lord in the battle at Jericho. Joshua is made to realize that God, not Joshua, is the power behind the victory.
Why did the Lord just ask for one shoe? The answer lies in ancient custom.
When a covenant was made between two individuals, in which one possessed power to keep the covenant and the other didn’t, the weaker individual handed the other individual one of his shoes. It was his way of saying, “I can’t, but you can.”
4. The Purpose Of Revelation.
A. God’s Promise - 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
There were Past Promises - Josh. 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
There were Present Promises - 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
Rahab had known about these promises for 40 years. The present promises reminded Joshua that the Lord had not changed His mind about the matter.
God still intended to give Israel the victory in this matter.
B. God’s Plan - 3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
All they had to do was to follow God’s plan and the walls would fall down flat.
He wants Israel to know that human efforts will fail, but that God’s plan will prevail.
1. They were to take seven priests. - A picture of Advocacy
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2. They were to take seven ram’s horn trumpets. The ram was a picture of Atonement. Abraham took Isaac to the top of Moriah to put him to death but It was a ram that provided the atoning, redeeming price for Isaac.
3. They were to take the Ark of the Covenant. - A picture of Abundance
The ark represents the Lord Jesus Christ in all of His fullness.
In the ark was the golden pot of manna, which speaks of His full provisions.
Aaron’s budding rod was also in there. This spoke of Christ’s power and His life.
The tables of the Law were also there. He is the fulfillment of the Law for you and me. In Jesus we find all we need to wage the battle against the strongholds in our lives.
4. They were simply to take these things and walk with them around the city.
- A picture of Assurance - He wanted them to do nothing but to walk by faith!
Jericho was a city of about 9 acres. It would have taken about 30 minutes to walk around it. So, they got up, lined up and marched around the city and went home.
C. God’s Power - v 5 and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat,
For them, victory would come, not by trying, but by trusting God.
D. God’s Praise - 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
