The Captain Comes

The Book of Joshua is showing God bringing his promises to pass, promises made to Abraham many years earlier. But these promises are made and kept in the context of warfare. We face a warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. This warfare is a time of fear and opportunity. In the midst of this warfare, a visitor comes to Joshua. If God's people are to go forth in the warfare seen in Joshua 6, we need to understand the person who comes in Joshua 5

1. The person in this coming
   1a. identity
   He is a divine person. Joshua worships and the worship is accepted. This person gives a request that is consistent with his divine identity. Taking shoes off was a cultural manifestation of reverence.
   1b. humility
   He comes in the form of a man. This captain comes in a form that is not intended to provoke fear. This was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ
   1c. authority
   He comes as a captain to take charge. The question is not what side the Lord is on, but whose side we are on

2. The purposes of this coming
   2a. He comes with a weapon
   His sword is drawn. He is coming to lead them to victory.
   2b. He comes with a word
   He is coming to give the promise of His blessing in the battle

Lessons

1. God is showing us what he will do in the future
2. Worship comes before warfare