Joshua
55
they proudly lifted themselves up against God, declaring that he was
not able to lead them into the land of Canaan. They had now passed
over Jordan on dry land, and their enemies could no longer reproach
them.
The manna had continued up to this time. But now, as they were
about to possess Canaan, and eat of the fruit of the land, the Israelites
had no more need of it, and it ceased.
As Joshua withdrew from the armies of Israel, to meditate and pray
for God’s special presence to attend him, he saw a man of lofty stature,
clad in warlike garments, with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua
did not recognize him as one of the armies of Israel, and yet he had
no appearance of being an enemy. In his zeal he accosted him, and
said, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries. And he said, Nay; but as
captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his
face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my
Lord unto his servant? And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto
Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou
standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”
This was no common angel. It was the Lord Jesus Christ, he who
had conducted the Hebrews through the wilderness, enshrouded in the
pillar of fire by night, and a pillar of cloud by day. The place was made
sacred by his presence, therefore Joshua was commanded to put off
his shoes.
The burning bush seen by Moses was also a token of the divine
presence, and as he drew nigh to behold the wonderful sight, the same
voice which here speaks to Joshua, said to Moses, “Draw not nigh
hither. Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou
standest is holy ground.”
[62]
The glory of God hallowed the sanctuary, and for this reason the
priests never entered the place sanctified by God’s presence with shoes
upon their feet. Particles of dust might cleave to their shoes, which
would desecrate the sanctuary. Therefore, the priests were required
to leave their shoes in the court, before entering the sanctuary. In
the court, beside the door of the tabernacle, stood the brazen laver,
wherein the priests washed their hands and their feet before entering
the tabernacle, that all impurity might be removed, “that they die not.”
All who officiated in the sanctuary were required of God to make
special preparations before entering where God’s glory was revealed.