I was reading the Bible this week, and I’ve read passages using this phrase before, this week it struck me 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 before Jesus was arrested, He instructed Peter to put his sword away and not defend Him at this 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 with baited breath for Him to give the Word.
Recent marketing strategies have frightened many consumers. Many years ago, I spent 2 1/2 years in digital marketing, and I was amazed at the technological advances that exists then. I was impressed that someone could search for something 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 place ads in front of us. 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 how hosts work exactly, 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 a horse from the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby.
Elisha stepped out of home to see the city he was in 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 servants eyes to see the hosts that were also present. It is common for us see the multiplication of the hosts of the enemy and yet miss the hosts that God is 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 see you are in need, He has plenty of resources to assist. God is at the ready the moment that you call to Him.
