Meaning of Joshua 5:15

Joshua 5:15 marks a pivotal moment where Joshua, on the eve of significant military engagements in the Promised Land, encounters a divine messenger, identified as the "commander of the Lord's army." This encounter is not merely a military briefing but a profound spiritual revelation. The instruction to remove sandals signifies a transition from the ordinary to the sacred, mirroring the experience of Moses at the burning bush. It is a command that demands reverence, obedience, and a recognition of God's sovereign presence and power, acknowledging that the ground upon which Joshua stands is consecrated by divine authority. This act prepares Joshua, and by extension, the Israelites, to approach God and His mission with the utmost respect and humility, understanding that their success is not due to their own might but to God's intervention.

Context and Background

This encounter occurs immediately after the Israelites have crossed the Jordan River and undergone a second ritual of circumcision at Gilgal. These preceding events are crucial: the crossing of the Jordan symbolized a new beginning, a transition into the Promised Land, and the circumcision was a covenantal act signifying their renewed commitment to God and their separation from the uncircumcised nations around them. Joshua, as the new leader following Moses, is faced with the daunting task of conquering Canaan. In this vulnerable and expectant state, standing at the threshold of immense challenge and divine promise, he encounters the Lord's commander, underscoring that their military campaign is, first and foremost, a spiritual one.

Key Themes and Messages

The central themes are divine presence, holiness, obedience, and spiritual preparedness. The commander's declaration establishes the sacredness of the location, demanding a response of awe and submission. Joshua's immediate obedience highlights the importance of heeding God's directives without hesitation. This encounter serves as a divine affirmation of Joshua's leadership and the legitimacy of Israel's mission, assuring him that God Himself is leading the charge. It emphasizes that military victories are ultimately orchestrated by God and require a posture of humility and dependence.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers today, this verse offers profound spiritual insights. The instruction to remove one's sandals is a metaphor for shedding pride, worldly concerns, and self-reliance when approaching God or engaging in His work. It calls for a recognition of God's holiness and our own need for purification and consecration. It reminds us that our spiritual endeavors are not secular tasks but sacred undertakings, requiring reverence and a willingness to be set apart for God's purposes. Just as Joshua was called to stand on holy ground, believers are called to live lives consecrated to God, understanding that all aspects of our lives can be sanctified by His presence.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This episode echoes earlier encounters with the divine. Most notably, it parallels God's appearance to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:5, where Moses is also instructed to remove his sandals because the ground is holy. This repetition signifies a continuity of God's covenantal relationship with His people and His consistent demand for reverence in His presence. It also foreshadows the ongoing spiritual warfare described in the New Testament, particularly in Ephesians 6:10-18, where believers are called to put on the "full armor of God" to stand against the schemes of the devil. The preparation of Joshua for earthly conquest serves as a type for the spiritual preparation of believers for heavenly victory.

Analogies

One analogy is that of a soldier being ordered to stand at attention and remove their hat when passing a sacred monument or addressing a dignitary. This outward act signifies respect and recognition of authority. Another analogy is a guest being asked to remove their shoes before entering a very clean or sacred space in a home or temple, signifying a desire not to defile the purity of the environment. In Joshua's case, the "ground" was not just physically holy but holy because the very Commander of the Lord's army was present, making it a divine meeting place.

Relation to Other Verses

• Exodus 3:5: As mentioned, Moses' encounter at the burning bush is the most direct parallel, establishing a pattern of divine revelation that requires outward signs of reverence.
• Leviticus 19:30: "Revere my Sabbaths, I am the Lord." This verse underscores the concept of holiness and the need for reverence towards God's appointed times and places.
• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple." This New Testament passage extends the concept of holiness to the individual believer and the church as the dwelling place of God's Spirit.
• Ephesians 6:10-18: The call to spiritual warfare in the New Testament resonates with the military context of Joshua, emphasizing the need for divine empowerment and obedience to God's commands in facing spiritual adversaries.