by Mark Weinrich

(Based on Joshua 5:13-15)

It is easy to presume
we know, we understand
the way to go, like Joshua
when his mind was already
on the fight when the angel
of the Lord appeared. “Are you
for us or for our enemies?”

What a shock when the angel
answers, “Neither.”
Why doesn’t he affirm 
Joshua’s willingness to act?
Instead, he challenges Israel’s general
to take off his sandals and recognize
whose presence he is in—
the commander of God’s angel
armies has come to empower
and lead him.

Joshua needed to worship first,
to listen, and know whose Presence
was going before him. 
In the same way, the Lord
doesn’t want us planning 
and presuming on our own,
like Joshua, there is always
holy ground to seek.

Mark Weinrich lives a creative life as a writer, photographer, musician, and artist–all wrapped together in an outdoorsman. He is a retired pastor and nine-year cancer survivor. His writing and photography have appeared in over 137 news stand, inspirational, and literary publications. He has sold eight children’s books and currently has two fantasy novels on Kindle.