SCRIPTURE: Joshua 5:13-15 (ESV)
DATE: 12-8-17
EVENT: Joshua’s Men Dinner 2017
A few weeks ago, Larry Tietje asked me to speak tonight from the book of Joshua. He specifically mentioned chapters three or four, but we’re gonna take a look at a more stunning story — I think — from chapter five.
ANNOUNCE THE TEXT
If you have your Bible — which I’m guessing you don’t — please turn with me to Joshua chapter 5 or open up a Bible app on your phone. We’ll be looking at verses thirteen through fifteen.
And since I’ve got a shorter amount of time than normal, we’re gonna just get right to it, OK? Four things we see in this text.
First, we must surrender. Second, we must follow. Third, we must worship. And fourth, we must win.
Surrender, follow, worship, and win.
MAIN POINT 1
First…we must surrender. Look with me verse thirteen of Joshua chapter five.
“When Joshua was by Jericho…” (Joshua 5:13a ESV)
I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed this detail in the story, but before the marching around Jericho begins — this story — of Joshua sneaking up to the wall all alone — takes place. And remember, this isn’t his first time at the wall. Forty years earlier he — and eleven other scouts — came upon Jericho.
And though Joshua and Caleb tried to persuade the people, the other scouts were afraid and their fear paralyzed all who heard their story. They didn’t surrender to God — they surrendered to their fear — resulting in an entire generation — all of Joshua and Caleb’s peers — being wiped out in the wilderness because they refused to surrender to God.
But this time — as Joshua’s at the wall — he knows there will be a different surrender. This time he and the people will surrender to the Lord.
The first thing we see is that we must surrender.
MAIN POINT 2
Second…we must follow. Verse thirteen once again.
“When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.”” (Joshua 5:13-14a ESV)
While at the wall of Jericho, Joshua unexpectedly runs into another figure — a man with a drawn sword in His hand. But who is this man? It’s Jesus. This is what theologians call a theophany — or more specifically a Christophany — you’re reading Grudem — you can handle big words — this is Jesus showing up in His human form prior to His birth.
How do we know? There are a few reasons, but the most compelling — I think — and we’ll see this in our next point — is that Joshua worships this Man and doesn’t get in trouble.
- You worship an angel in the Bible and you get in trouble.
- You worship an idol and you get in trouble.
- You worship anything other than God in the Bible and you get in trouble.
- You worship Jesus and you’re good to go. So this is Jesus.
And notice how eighty year old Joshua walks right up to this Warrior with a sword drawn and he gets in His face — that’s implied in the original language — Joshua gets in this Guy’s face and asks “Are you for us or for our enemy?”
And Jesus says, “No.” Did Joshua ask a yes or no question? No. So why the odd answer?
Because Joshua asked the wrong question. As one pastor said, “Jesus isn’t the kind of person who is for or against people. He’s the kind of person people are for or against.”
The question isn’t “is Jesus for or against us” — the question is “are we for or against Jesus?” That’s what it means to follow Him. We’re not asking Him to come and follow us and bless what we’re doing. We’re asking are we going to follow Him and do what He’s blessing?
We see that we must follow.
MAIN POINT 3
Third…we must worship. Verse fourteen.
“And he (this is Jesus speaking) said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:13-15 ESV)
When Joshua realizes who he’s speaking with — he hits the dirt — he puts his face to the ground and he worships. Then he asks for his orders.
And I bet Joshua was also a bit relieved. Think about it. He’s about to lead the Israelites into their first battle with him as their leader. He’s always been second-in-command and now his leadership is going to be put to the test. And then Jesus shows up and says, “I’ve got this. I’m in charge. Just do what I tell you to do.” What a relief.
Sometimes we Christians forget that Jesus is the Commander-in-chief — the Senior Pastor — the Guy at the top of the org chart — of our church. I’m not in charge — Jesus is. I’m not in the driver’s seat — Jesus is.
In fact, due to the irony of my name being Joshua — I think a name change for Joshua’s Men should be considered. I like the idea of Jesus’ Men — that way there’s never any confusion with Who you’re surrendered to, Who you’re following, Who you worship, and Who is in charge — but I’ll leave it up to you — I’m not gonna force a name change — I get tradition — I’m just throwing it out there that it’s kind of weird for you all to be called Joshua’s Men with my name being Josh and all. But back to more important matters.
Can you see — in Joshua’s encounter with Jesus — an echo of Moses’ encounter with God. Did you catch it? Joshua is told to remove his sandals because the place where he’s standing is holy. And why is it holy? Because he’s standing in the presence of the LORD who is holy.
So we are to worship.
PROPOSITION
And, finally, we win.
Do you remember that Jesus’ sword is drawn — it’s in His hand — it’s not put away in its scabbard — it’s ready to be used — it’s raised and ready to be put to use against His enemies.
But here’s a question you may never have asked before. Why was Joshua spared the sword? Have you ever wondered why Joshua didn’t experience the wrath of Jesus’ sword in this encounter? I mean Jesus has already said, “I’m not on your side” so being spared the sword has nothing to do with what Joshua has done, is doing, or even what He’s going to do.
So why is he spared the sword?
CHRIST CONNECTION
Do you recall what happened just before Joshua’s encounter with Jesus? In Joshua chapter five verses ten through twelve we read, “While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” (Joshua 5:10-12 ESV)
The people celebrated the Passover. Remember before they left Egypt, they celebrated the very first Passover meal. Where a lamb was slain and its blood was put on the doorposts so the angel of death would pass over their homes and not kill the firstborn son — a lamb was slain in place of the firstborn son.
And Who is the passover lamb meant to point us to? Who should it remind us of? What does the passover lamb and its shed blood all point to? Jesus, right? God’s firstborn Son who is the Lamb of God.
The Lamb who would be killed — He’d be slain and His blood would pour out so that Joshua — and us — would no longer need to fear His sword. Jesus took the sword Himself — that’s why Joshua lives — that’s why Joshua experiences the victory in battle. That’s why he wins.
And that’s why we win too. Jesus took the sword of judgment and death upon Himself so that His sword is no longer against us — but is fighting for us. Vanquishing our enemies. Destroying our greatest foes. Securing for us eternal victory. You see — in the end — we win because Jesus took the sword upon Himself in our place.
CONCLUSION
And so we surrender, we follow, we worship, and we win.
We surrender because Jesus is our Commander. Let’s not be like the Israelites who failed to surrender to God — who were afraid to fully surrender to Him — because they allowed the big walls of Jericho to make their God seem small.
And we don’t face the walls of Jericho anyway — we face the gates of Hell. But never forget that our God has defeated the gates of Hell and He is setting captives free and He is still in the business of rescuing people who are headed to an eternity of destruction. Jesus is not a Commander we’re trying to get on our side — He’s the Commander we must surrender to — it’s His side we’re to join.
And we follow — because Jesus is the One leading the charge into battle. His sword is drawn and He’s the One doing all of the fighting. Like the Israelites at Jericho, our role is simply to get in line and follow His commands no matter how silly it may seem or how much it may cost us.
And we worship — because Jesus is where our life, security, joy, and hope are found. He’s infinitely valuable and so we worship Him because He is what we value most.
And we win — because Jesus is our Victor. He’s the conquering King. He’s the firstborn Son. He’s the Passover Lamb. He’s put the noose around Satan’s neck and it’s only a matter of time before that snake is our Enemy no more. We win.
Have you surrendered to Jesus?
Are you following Him?
Do you worship Him?
And will you win?
Joshua experienced the consequences when people refuse to surrender, follow, and worship the Lord. That generation didn’t win. And Joshua experienced the reward of a life surrendered, a life that followed, and a life that worshiped the Lord. Joshua won because He was on Jesus’ side.
My hope and prayer is that Gateway will be a church known for its surrender. A church known for our following of the Lord. A church known for valuing God above all else — known for our worship. And that we will be a church that wins.
But it will take all of us living lives that are surrendered to, following, and worshiping the One whose sword is in His hand and is ready for battle. The One will win for us. Our Commander — our Passover Lamb — our Victor — Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us to surrender to You. We confess that often we try to get You to join our side instead of joining You and Your side.
Father, help us to follow You. Help us to submit to and obey Your Word for Your commands are not up for debate.
Help us to worship You. We’re so easily enticed to worship things other than You. So open the eyes of our hearts so we see Your infinite value and worship You alone.
And Father thank you that the victory is secured for those who are on Your side — we win. The Commander of Your Army will return soon and the war will be over. And that is spectacularly Good News. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.