Commander-in-Chief ∙∙
I come now as captain of the host of the LORD. – Joshua 5:14
Joshua 5:13-15
13 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”
14 “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”
15 The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.
A Story of Leadership and Triumph
In 1966, the movie Cast a Giant Shadow was released, portraying Israel’s struggle for survival as a newborn nation during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The film highlighted the immense challenges faced by the Israelis, including disunity and a lack of organization among the various loosely connected paramilitary groups fighting for the nation’s survival.
David Daniel “Mickey” Marcus, a United States Army colonel, was recruited to serve as modern Israel’s first general. He was tasked with uniting and commanding the diverse military units of the fledgling Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Kirk Douglas portrayed Marcus in the film. To protect his identity, the Haganah provided him with a false passport under the alias “Michael Stone,” and he became known as Aluf Stone. The Israelis faced overwhelming odds, outnumbered 50 to 1 by the combined Arab armies. The Arab forces, equipped with modern military weapons including fighter aircraft, tanks, artillery, and guns, sought to annihilate every living Jew. In contrast, the Israelis had almost nothing. Yet, Aluf Stone led the nascent IDF to victory.
The Meaning of “Aluf”
The Hebrew term aluf originally referred to a “tribal chief, captain, head, ruler, or leader.” Specifically, it denoted “a leader or chief over a thousand people.” The word is derived from the Hebrew noun elep, meaning “thousand.” Over time, it came to signify a leader over many and, ultimately, “a commander-in-chief.” In modern English, it translates to “general.”
1 Chronicles 13:1: “David consulted with all his officials, including the generals (captains of the thousands) and captains of his army.”
In contemporary Hebrew, aluf also means “champion.” In the present-day Israeli Defense Forces, the military rank of “major general” is known as aluf.
Our Champion and Commander
As children of the King, we too have a great leader, a champion, and the commander of the LORD’s army. The Lord Jesus Christ stands as our ultimate commander-in-chief, guiding and leading us in every aspect of our lives.
Hebrews 12:2: “Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”
REFLECT & PRAY
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the one who begins the process of our faith but also the one who brings it to completion. He ensures that the work He starts in us is finished.
Father, help me to fix my eyes entirely on the Lord Jesus Christ and to follow His leadership faithfully. May I reflect on Him moment by moment, just as I instinctively breathe moment by moment.
INSIGHT
Heroes of Faith: A Legacy of Inspiration
Throughout the millennia, the children of the King have lived lives marked by faith, confidence, consistency, and trust. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews recounts their remarkable stories. By faith, they sought to walk with God, diligently pursuing His will. Many of these heroes are named, beginning with Abel and Noah and continuing through David, Samuel, and the prophets (Hebrews 11:4-32). These individuals lived and died by faith, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering trust in God.
These narratives of historical figures serve not only as records of the past. They are meant to inspire us to live as they did, emulating their character, faithfulness, and resilience. It is as though they are watching us from above, cheering us on as we run our own race of faith.
Hebrews 12:1 asserts: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
The Race of Life
The Father has entered each of His children in the race of life, with the ultimate goal of victory. He is not a passive observer; He actively cheers us on to win. Just as athletes running a race focus their minds and eyes on the finish line, we are called to fix our attention on the Lord Jesus Christ, turning away from distractions.
The apostle Paul explains, 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.”
A Strategy for Success
The book of Hebrews provides a clear strategy for running this race successfully. It starts with removing anything that slows us down or trips us up, especially recurring sins. By shedding these obstacles, we can run with determination and perseverance toward victory.
The key to achieving success rests in a principle that is elegantly simple yet deeply profound, clearly articulated in Hebrews 12:2: “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”
Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
The Greek word translated as “fixing our eyes” or “keeping our eyes” is aphorao. This term literally means “to look away from all else.” It conveys the idea of “focusing intently on one thing, giving it undivided attention, free of distractions.”
We are called to focus entirely on the Lord Jesus Christ. The UBS commentary translates it as “constantly thinking about Jesus.” He should be our “steady state.” “Our minds should instinctively return to Him,” just like a compass needle always points north. When we are not occupied with other tasks, our thoughts should naturally center on Him.
Jesus: Our Champion and Trailblazer
The Lord Jesus Christ is described as our champion, our aluf. The Greek word translated as “author,” “pioneer,” “founder,” or “leader” is archegos. This term paints a vivid picture of “someone who blazes a trail for others to follow.” In the context of the old West, He is like a scout sent ahead to prepare the way. In football, He is the blocker who clears the path for the running back.
The strategy is simple: He leads, and we follow.
The Perfecter of Our Faith
But there is more. The Greek word translated as “perfecter” is teleiotes. This term refers to “someone who brings something to completion without defect or blemish.” In baseball, this would be the closer, the relief pitcher who steps in at the end of the game to secure the final outs and ensure victory.
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the one who begins the process of faith but also the one who completes it. He is the creator, sustainer, and finisher of faith for the children of the King. He makes faith possible, calls us to it, inspires us within it, and ensures that we complete the tasks the Father has set before us.
1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
The Dread Champion
The prophet Jeremiah offers a powerful description of the Lord: Jeremiah 20:11: “The LORD is with me like a dread champion.”
The apostle John echoes this sentiment, declaring that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
Revelation 21:6: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.”
Conclusion
The story of Aluf Stone highlights the power of leadership, unity, and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds. As children of the King, we are called to follow the leadership of our ultimate champion, the Lord Jesus Christ, who guides us to victory in both faith and life.
The race of life is filled with challenges, but we are not alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who inspire us with their faith, all while being led by the ultimate champion, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the trailblazer who clears the path and the perfecter who ensures our victory. By keeping our eyes fixed on Him, we can run with endurance and finish the race that is set before us.
Dare to be like Joshua. Joshua 5:14 “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence and said, “I am at your command. What do you want your servant to do?”
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 