After God's people renew their covenant with Him, Joshua has a dramatic encounter with the commander of the Lord's army. Some Bible scholars believe Joshua was actually in the presence of the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ!

The secret to Joshua's amazing faith and obedience is his willingness to listen intently whenever and however the Lord speaks to him. He immediately responds by asking: ″What message does my Lord have for his servant?″ (Joshua 5:14).

We have seen this in previous chapters, and we see it again today. Each time, Joshua comes away emboldened to trust the Lord God for celestial and terrestrial miracles. Tell the people to march around Jericho once a day for six consecutive days and then seven times on the seventh day? Tell the people to remain quiet until the moment to shout? Joshua obeys immediately, and becomes the catalyst for such ″impossible″ plans.

Some people claim to hear from God even when they do not; we don't want to trust such misguided persons. Others say that they have never heard from Him; we do not want to judge them. Still others hear God speak to them unmistakably. It may happen, as Joshua discovers, every few weeks or every few years. When it happens, the listeners know that God's message will be very specific, detailed, and often counterintuitive.

This is precisely Joshua's experience each time. Each time the Lord speaks to him, it is unmistakable. Even though many years may have passed, even though the Lord's commands sound counterintuitive, and even though the Lord's promises seem humanly impossible, there is no question in Joshua's heart. He knows, trusts, believes, and immediately obeys.

Do not wait for God to say something new. Instead, listen intently to what He has already said to you in the Scriptures. What has the Lord said to you during our journey so far through the book of Joshua? May He continue to nudge your heart and quicken your mind in the coming days!