The Answer To Our Every Need – Sunday Thought For The Day

In Joshua 5:13, we read that Joshua was by Jericho.  Perhaps he was praying or perhaps he was scouting the city he would soon be leading his people into battle against.  We read that Joshua lifted his eyes, and saw a man standing in front of him with His sword drawn.  He approached the man and questioned Him as to whether He was a friend or adversary?

The man answered and said: “Nay, but as the Captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.”  The man Joshua saw was a Theophanies, i.e., the appearance of the Pre-incarnate Christ.

Joshua was about to lead his people into battle against a more than formidable foe.  And, there stood the Lord, i.e., Christ, with His sword drawn in front of him.  In his Concise Commentary, Matthew Henry said it best: “To Abraham He appeared as a traveller; to Joshua as a man of war. Christ will be to His people what their faith needs.”

What we learn from this portion of scripture is, not only are the steps of a righteous man ordered by the Lord, but our God stands before us ready to lead us to victory regardless of what or who confronts us.

Why would we choose to face the obstacles and/or needs in our lives in our own strength, when Jesus stands ready to act on our behalf according to whatever the need dictates?  How comforting when we, in faith, lean on Jesus in every situation and for our every need.

When questioned by Joshua, Christ answered that He was at that moment, “As the Captain of the host of the LORD, am I now come.”  It indicates that He was leading the very hosts of heaven into battle on behalf of Joshua and his people, because that was their need at that time.

I find great comfort in knowing that I do not fight the enemy of our souls alone nor do I need face any hardship or carry any burden in my own strength.  I encourage you to read and meditate on these verses.  As the children of God, we are not alone in our earthly struggles.  Christ goes before us and with us.  We must only trust and believe.  We must exercise faith.

READ:

Joshua 5:13-15 (KJV)

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.