What did the captain of the Lord's host command Joshua to do?

In Joshua 5:15, we encounter a striking moment: a divine being, referred to as the captain of the Lord's host, instructs Joshua to remove his sandals. This isn't just a quirky command; it harkens back to the moment Moses had at the burning bush when God told him the same thing (Exodus 3:5). It's a profound reminder of the sacredness of the ground they were standing on.

Think about it. Taking off one's sandals symbolizes setting aside ordinary concerns and acknowledging that some moments demand humility and reverence. Ancient cultures often recognized that certain spaces were holy, meant for encounters with the divine. This moment for Joshua indicated that preparing for God's mission requires spiritual readiness.

Moreover, the "captain of the Lord’s host" suggests a leader among angelic beings. Interestingly, the Hebrew term for that phrase elicits thoughts of armies—a sacred military presence prepping for the conquest of the Promised Land.

This watchword of universal acclaim—that you tread upon hallowed grounds—569 echo across various scriptures. It's worth noting that throughout the Bible (like in the story of Elijah and Elisha), encounters with the divine or prophetic often shake one’s shoes off, suggesting a thin veil between the seen and the unseen.

So, the simple action of Joshua removing his sandals opens up a wealth of understanding about approaching the divine. Each echo reveals deeper truths about humility, presence, and the importance of acknowledgment amid our life journey. A stepping stone towards greatness often begins with a careful sense of reverence!