And he said, Nay, but as captaine of the hoste of the Lord am I now come. And Ioshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said vnto him, What saith my Lord vnto his seruant? Joshua 5:14 (KJV)
Now it came to pass, when Joshua was by the Jordan, that the commander of the host of the LORD appeared unto him. And Joshua said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, I am the commander of the host of the LORD. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said unto him, What is my command?
This passage is part of a significant event that took place before the Israelites entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, after the death of Moses. At this point the people had crossed the Jordan River and were encamped at Gilgal, preparing to take Jericho, the first city of the land. The generation that left Egypt had died in the wilderness, and a new, circumcised generation was about to inherit the inheritance.
In the encounter Joshua meets a divine figure identified as the “commander of the host of the LORD.” Many scholars view this figure as an angelic messenger, and some traditions speak of a pre‑incarnate appearance of Christ, though the text itself does not state this explicitly. The appearance signals God’s presence and authority guiding the people as they move toward the promised inheritance.
Joshua’s reaction is one of reverence and submission. He falls on his face to the earth, an act of worship, and acknowledges himself as a servant of the Lord. He then asks, “What is my command?”—a request for divine direction. This response models humility, recognition of divine authority, and a desire for God’s guidance.
From this scene we draw several lessons. First, recognizing God’s authority calls for worshipful humility when we encounter His presence or messengers. Second, seeking God’s guidance, as Joshua does, reminds believers to pray, study Scripture, and seek godly counsel when faced with decisions. Third, trusting God’s leadership is essential; just as Joshua trusted the commander to lead Israel into the land, we can trust God’s provision in our own journeys. Finally, identifying ourselves as servants of the Lord encourages a servant‑hearted devotion, urging us to obey God’s commands and fulfill His purposes in our lives.
