Josh. 5:13 ¶ Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”
Josh. 5:14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”
The Man with the drawn sword in this story represents The Lord Jesus. Joshua was facing the first big battle in the land of inheritance, and did not yet know how to deal with it. The high walls of Jericho were tightly shut and maned by many well armed weapons and soldiers. Jesus shows up, with a drawn sword, and Joshua asks Him who side He was on. Jesus basically told him that He wasn’t there to take sides but that He was there to TAKE OVER. In every situation that you and I face, Christ is there with drawn sword, ready to take over and do battle on our behalf. All Joshua had to do was to acknowledge Jesus’ authority as Captain (Sovereign) in this situation, and with expectant faith do what the Captain told him to do. Of course, Jesus demonstrated His adequacy, and in response to Joshua’s (and the people’s) shout of faith the walls came down. Jesus’ role, as Captain of the host of Heaven, was to fight the battle, the role of the people was to restfully obey, fighting the good fight of faith. What, or who, is your Jericho today? Are you prepared to acknowledge the One with drawn sword, the Captain of the host of Heaven, Who has come to take over? If so, obey His instructions, shout the shout of faith, and watch Him do the impossible.