The Battle Belongs to the Lord

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood 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?’ So He said, ‘No, 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 said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’”

Joshua 5:13-14 (NKJV)

There are promises God has made to some of us, yet the opposition seems terrifying. I want to encourage you today: do not be afraid. More importantly, surrender every battle you face to the Lord—do it God’s way.

Joshua, filled with wisdom, had assumed leadership after Moses. The mantle for leadership was passed to him through the laying on of hands by Moses, a man whom God Himself had testified about. Moses was God’s friend and prophet, the vessel through whom miraculous deliverance came to Israel after 430 years of bondage. He was also the lawgiver, through whom God provided His statutes in the wilderness.

The legacy of Moses was unparalleled. Scripture says:

“But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.”

—Deuteronomy 34:10-12 (NKJV)

Imagine stepping into leadership after such a man! Yet, God told Joshua very plainly:

“Moses my servant is now dead. Now therefore, arise and go over this Jordan….As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee…….”

Joshua 1:2-5 (NKJV)

The Task Before Joshua

Conquering Jericho was first on the agenda and this had to be carefully executed. To be sure, Joshua knew what was ahead. He had been to Jericho before and although it was well fortified with three walls, he knew that Jericho could be taken because it was land that God had promised to them

Joshua was no stranger to battle. He had fought and seen God move before. But he also understood that the previous generation had failed at this very point. Their unbelief had turned an eleven-day journey into forty years of wandering, and as a result, they never entered the land promised to them. There was now a new generation on the threshold. They had to be guided not to repeat the mistakes of their fathers.

Joshua’s Strategy

Joshua followed every instruction from God with precision:

 He rallied the troops, ensuring every tribe participated, including those already settled in their own lands.

 He sent two spies into Jericho, who returned with a faith-filled report—fear had already gripped the Canaanites because of Israel.

 He commanded that the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant lead the way, keeping a clear distance so all could follow.

 As instructed by God, the priests stood in the Jordan River, and miraculously, the waters stopped, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground.

 Twelve stones were taken from the Jordan as a memorial of God’s faithfulness. Another twelve were placed where the priests stood, marking the miracle.

 Before battle, God instructed Joshua to circumcise all the men who had been born in the wilderness—removing the reproach of Egypt from them.

The Commander of the Lord’s Army

As Joshua prepared for the battle ahead, he encountered a man with a drawn sword. Encountering this presence, he asked, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”

The man’s response was striking: “No, but as Commander of the Army of the Lord, I have now come.”

Joshua instantly knew that this was no ordinary man. This was the Lord of Hosts, the One who had promised to fight for Israel. Joshua fell on his face in worship. He understood that while he was leading the people, God was the true Commander.

A Call to Trust God Completely

Today, many of us find ourselves in a personal wilderness, struggling to trust God despite the miracles He has already done in our lives. Some still carry the reproach of Egypt—a mindset shaped by the past, by bondage, doubts, and fears.

How often do we question God’s promises? Did I hear Him correctly? Maybe the timing isn’t right. If only I had this, that, or the other… And before we know it, we start longing for the past, even rationalizing the struggles away.

An entire generation perished in the wilderness because of unbelief. Though they bore the outward sign of circumcision, their hearts were uncircumcised. Outward markings mean nothing without inward transformation in the heart. The Holy Spirit in us makes this happen – He transforms us. He causes validation of our faith by our actions. He is God’s seal upon us and He empowers us to be fierce, bold and unrelenting in the face of opposition as He directs.

God is a mighty warrior. Will you surrender your heart completely to Him and let Him lead? Will you trust His direction completely?

When the Lord speaks, He will also bring it to pass. Whatever battle you face today, however daunting or challenging — know this: You can hold your peace. The battle belongs to the Lord.

A few verses to reflect on:

Jeremiah 1:8, John 16:33, Joshua 1:5-9, Numbers 27:22-23, Exodus 12:40, 1 Kings 22:19, Psalm 103:20-21, Deuteronomy 1:30, Isaiah 42:8, Exodus 14:3, Ephesians 1:13-14, Isaiah 46:11, Isaiah 42:13, Exodus 14:14