Joshua Met Jesus the Day Before Jericho Fell

Did you know that the day before Jericho fell, Joshua met the pre-incarnate Christ — sword drawn, standing in his path, refusing to take Joshua's side?

The encounter is recorded in Joshua 5:13–15. Israel has crossed the Jordan and is camped opposite Jericho. The conquest is about to begin. Joshua is on a reconnaissance walk near the city when "a man" stands in his path with a drawn sword. Joshua confronts him with the warrior's question: "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"

The man answers: "Neither. But I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come."

Joshua's response identifies who he just encountered. He falls on his face and worships. The Commander accepts the worship — something an angelic messenger would refuse (compare Revelation 19:10 and 22:9, where John tries to worship an angel and is told twice, "Do not do it! Worship God!"). Then the Commander gives the same command God gave Moses at the burning bush 40 years earlier:

— Exodus 3:5 (to Moses): "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
— Joshua 5:15 (to Joshua): "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy."

Same words. Same voice. Reformed theologians from Calvin to Owen to Vern Poythress have read these "angel of the LORD" / "commander of the LORD's army" appearances as Christophanies — pre-incarnate appearances of the Second Person of the Trinity. Christ appears at the beginning of the Exodus story (Moses) and at its completion (Joshua at the conquest). Bookending the Exodus.

And don't miss the answer to Joshua's question. Joshua asked the partisan question every warrior asks: whose side is God on? The Commander said neither — refused the frame entirely. The question wasn't whose side God was on. The question was whose side Joshua was on. God doesn't enlist in our causes. He enlists us in His.

This is the third episode in our Christophany mini-series — pre-incarnate appearances of Christ throughout the Old Testament. Subscribe to catch the rest.

📖 Passages: Joshua 5:13–15, Exodus 3:1–6, Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:9