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. 

–Joshua 5:13-15

God’s holy word tells us that faith, hope and love continue to abide (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). As you walk through the fire of life here on earth, pursuing the daunting mission God is calling you to accomplish, what is your source of hope?

Do you at times feel as if the path you are on is too steep, too rocky, too difficult, too dangerous? Perhaps God is leading you to a new place where you will accomplish things that today, in your current condition and situation, you could not even imagine. Please know, with absolute certainty, that God is with you. No matter what you are facing, God is with you. The holy, pure, all-loving, Creator of the universe is with you. He knows you better than you know yourself, He knows your desires and your dreams and your needs. He knows exactly what you are facing and where you are heading and what you will accomplish when you get there. He is with you. He has your back.

Years ago we sat discussing prayer, wholeness, the enemy’s attacks and battles in the heavenly realm, and my close friend and prayer warrior Joe Bruner said, “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. I’m your rear guard.” I know God hears our prayers and He responds to our prayers and I trust that as Joe and others join me in prayer, seeking righteousness, faithfully trusting, and seizing God’s holy word, God responds, Satan’s schemes are thwarted, and we are able to stand firm. And my certainty that Joe and others are praying for me increases my confidence that heavenly protection surrounds me.

God gave Joshua a similar message of assurance. Joshua was the newly appointed leader of God’s people who had just crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The crossing was a carefully orchestrated event. Priests carried the Ark of the Covenant and others followed about a half-mile behind. As the priests stepped into the Jordan River, it stopped flowing. They stood on the riverbed holding the ark while all the Israelites crossed on dry land, and water backed up along the Jordan Valley as far a twenty miles north. The ark was a tangible representation of God’s presence and He demonstrated His power, authority and presence to people who saw it and later heard about it.

After crossing the river, they camped near Jericho. They were in the Promised Land. Manna stopped appearing, they ate from the land, and Joshua prepared for the task ahead – Amorites and Canaanites occupied the land, and the Israelites needed to claim what God had promised them. As Joshua gazed at the walls surrounding Jericho and considered the battles before them, he must have wondered how they could possibly take the city, and his eyes were suddenly opened to see a heavenly being. The “commander of the army of the Lord” appeared before him holding a drawn sword saying, “I have now come” and Joshua immediately submitted to him. 

God opened Joshua’s eyes to see the support God was providing in the spiritual realm, and the commander had his sword drawn. He was ready for battle. As I read the words thinking about warriors in the spiritual realm, I am reminded of the comment Jesus said while the guards were arresting Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter struck a guard with his sword, cutting off his ear and Jesus urged everyone to calm down saying, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). And later, as Peter sat chained in jail, friends prayed in Mary’s home and God sent an angel to rescue him (see Acts 12:1-19). When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to burn Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they trusted God and He sent an angel to protect them from the fiery furnace (see Daniel 3). We may not have eyes to see them, but our limited vision does not mean they are absent. God has warriors in the spiritual realm and He sends them to help, assure and protect us.

And as I imagine the commander dressed for battle, holding his sword, I cannot help but think of the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-20). The sword of the Spirit is God’s holy word, which urges us to wear the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith and shoes allowing us to proclaim the gospel of peace. God urges each of us to “put on the whole armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). With the image of the commander of God’s army lingering in my mind I wonder, am I dressed for battle? Did I put everything on today? Have I diligently prepared for the battles to come?

While I need to cover myself with protection, and bathe myself in God’s holy word and in prayer, and stand firm in righteousness and truth, and proclaim the gospel of peace, I also know that God has my back. He is with me. No matter what I will face today or tomorrow or the day after that, He is with me. And I know that, in the same way He sent His commander to help Joshua, He sends His heavenly warriors to help us.

Seize His holy assurance for yourself. God speaks to you through His holy word, the sword of the Spirit. Stand firm on His promises. He is with you. He loves you. He knows you and your needs and your desires and your dreams. He hears your prayers and He responds. He has your back.

Now faith, hope and love remain. What is the source of your hope?