We know Joshua to have been a brave man. He had seen much, witnessing the ten plagues firsthand, being on Mt. Sinai with Moses in God’s very presence, joining the twelve who spied out the Promised Land and emerging as one of two who came back ready to fight the giants there. But when he met the commander of the army of the Lord before Jericho, Joshua fell on his face in submission.


This type of submission is more than mere respect. It is an admission that there is power and authority present which could destroy. Still Joshua knew his Lord, so there was also an attraction, a willingness to submit, a desire to please that enabled him to say, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” And the Lord was faithful to Joshua. He gave him victory after victory in the Promised Land, and in the end He used Joshua to bring about peace.


Many believe the commander of the army of the Lord was an early appearance of Jesus. He is our Commander now, and we submit to Him in reverence and awe because He has already saved us.