Who Is Really In Charge?

Who is in Charge?

Joshua 5:10-1510

¶ And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

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 captain of the host of the LORD 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 captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

The promised land was a complete change for the children of Israel. All kinds of changes were in store for them and they were going to have to make adjustments in their lives.

For 40 years they had been fed by the hand of God with the provision of manna and quail six days every week. But now they had entered into Canaan. This was to be there new homeland, but they were going to have to conduct themselves differently.

Moses was gone and Joshua was the leader they were to follow. He had different qualities and a different personality than Moses, but he was God's man for this period of time. God was still working on him and He was working through him.

Now Joshua was pondering the task of conquering Jericho. He was a military man and probably considering what stategy or maneuver would be needed for an attack.

About that time Joshua looked up and saw a man with his sword drawn and coming his way.

Now Joshua was like a lot of us. He stood his ground and told this man to speak up and be clear about whose side he was on. Basically, he was saying that if you are on our side, then fall in line and help us out. Isn't that the way we treat God many times? We tell God if you are on our side, then help us out like we sense that we need help.

This man was not just any man. He was the captain of the host of the Lord. Many believe that this was a Cristophony. This was Christ showing up temporarily in human form in the Old Testament. He speaks up and says--NAY, nay, I did not show up to take sides, but I am come to take over. He was there to take charge.

Not in a million years would Joshua ever come up with the divine plan to conquer Jericho, like it was going to be conquered.

God has a remedy for your problem, and it very likely that it is not going to play out like you have pictured in your mind.

Are you willing and ready to let Him take over. Yeild it all to Him.

Joshua does 3 things to prove that Jesus was truly in charge:

1. He fell on his face to the earth and worshipped.

2. He proclaimed that he was his servant and asked what he could do.

3. He took off his combat shoes.