And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?”

14 He said, “Neither. I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?”

15 God’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.”

Joshua did it.

 Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out.

2-5 God spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp now. I’ve already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its elite forces. Here’s what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. And then, a long blast on the ram’s horn—when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in.” (The Message)

‘Joshua…learned that the the Lord already had a plan for taking Jericho. All Joshua had to do was obey and remember that he was on ”holy ground.” From that time, whenever Joshua took off his shoes, it reminded him that he was second in command. That was the secret of his victory (2 Chron.20:15).

If God calls you to do His work, He will tell you how to do it. His plans may seem foolish to you, but they always work if you obey by faith (Isaiah 55:8-11).’ Warren W. Wiersbe

If there is a key to Christian leadership, it is to share the same posture as Joshua. Whether literally or metaphorically, we need to be on our faces before the Lord, that we may hear His voice, receive His instructions and obey them. There is a way into every locked up ‘Jericho’, but we must never imagine that we are smart enough to work it out on our own. The work of God in this world will not be advanced by man’s clever ideas (although, for a time, it may appear to be) but by God’s own plans. May we be in a place to receive them.

Mary’s words to the servants at the wedding in Cana are always applicable: ” “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5)