I was reading the Bible this week, and though I’ve read passages using this phrase before, this week I was struck by it a little differently. Throughout the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, there are numerous passages that describe God as the “Lord of hosts.” Why would God specifically feel the need to describe himself as the One Who is in charge of multitudes?
Just prior to Jesus’ arrest, He instructed Peter to put his sword away and not defend Him at that particular juncture. In Matthew 26:53 NKJV, Jesus asked him, “…do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” Here, it seems Jesus was reminding Peter of his position as “Lord of hosts.”
To be Lord of hosts means that God has all of the resources He needs at His disposal. He doesn’t require any assistance, and He doesn’t possess any weaknesses. God is never stumped by a question nor paralyzed by a problem. After all, He has hosts simply waiting with baited breath for Him to give the Word.
Recent marketing strategies have frightened many consumers. Many years ago, I spent two and a half years in digital marketing, and I was amazed at the technological advances that existed then. I was impressed that someone could perform an Internet search using their search engine, but then open their social media and be immediately inundated with ads relating to their previous research on a completely different platform. With the advent of Siri, Google Voice, Alexa, Bixby, and others, I am convinced we sign away rights when using a smart phone that allow them to listen in to conversations and use the data from those conversations to display relevant ads in our individual digital experiences. As a result, that must mean these voices represented by artificial intelligence are always listening for the keyword that allows us to use hands-free technology.
That’s exactly the way I envision the hosts that serve God. They are waiting in the wings of the throne room in anticipation for God to give the word and put them to work. I don’t know exactly how hosts work, but whatever they are doing prior to God deploying them for His kingdom, there is one thing that I believe they are doing–listening. The moment God gives the word, they are off like an eager horse at the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby.
Elisha stepped out of his home to see the local city surrounded by the Syrian army, yet Elisha remained unwavering. His servant was terrified by the formidable army, but Elisha remained at peace. When the servant cried out the despairing cry, “What do we do?” Elisha calmly said, “Don’t worry. There are more with us than there are with them” and then asked God to open the servant’s eyes to see the angelic hosts that were also present. It is common for us see the multiplication of the enemy’s hosts and yet miss the hosts that God has ready to utilize for our assistance. So remember: even when it seems like the enemy has stacked the odds against you, there are hosts that you cannot see that God has at the ready.
Be encouraged by this concept today. The fact that God is the Lord of hosts means whenever He sees you are in need, He has plenty of resources to assist. God is at the ready the moment that you call to Him.
