Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?" He replied, "Neither; but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, "What do you command your servant, my lord?" The commander of the army of the Lord said to Joshua, Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so. (Josh. 5:13-15).
Who is this commander of the Lord's army? Please note that Joshua fell on his face to the earth and "worshiped" (NRSV) -- this seems to extend beyond mere obeisance and reverence exemplified by Joseph's brothers in Gen. 42:6 -- further indicated by the commander's command that Joshua: "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy"; which of course harks back to Ex. 3:5.
So, is the commander of the Lord's angelic army none other than the pre-incarnate Messiah? Is this a Christophany in the Old Testament? What do you say?
Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matt. 26:53).
Who is this commander of the Lord's army? Please note that Joshua fell on his face to the earth and "worshiped" (NRSV) -- this seems to extend beyond mere obeisance and reverence exemplified by Joseph's brothers in Gen. 42:6 -- further indicated by the commander's command that Joshua: "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy"; which of course harks back to Ex. 3:5.
So, is the commander of the Lord's angelic army none other than the pre-incarnate Messiah? Is this a Christophany in the Old Testament? What do you say?
Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matt. 26:53).
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