The God of Hosts

Reading God's word every day provides important reminders that guide our outlook and perspective.  We can be so dependent or reliant on our physical senses we neglect to consider ways God works and accomplishes His purposes in the world.  Every day we observe interactions which leave us wondering, amazed or confused, yet nothing is a surprise to God who knows and does all.

My evening reading has been in the book of Judges and the parts of the life of Gideon and his sons picture Bibles rarely cover.  Though Gideon feared God and trusted in Him, he erred by setting up an ephod in Ophrah fashioned from spoils of war that led to people being ensnared in idolatry.  Devoid of godly leadership after the death of Gideon, the people of Israel did not remember God who delivered them from their enemies on every side, nor did they show kindness to Gideon's house.  With the support of the men of Shechem, Abimelech the son of Gideon was proclaimed as king--something his father flatly refused to do.  He slew all his 70 brothers in cold blood, save Jotham the youngest who escaped.  Before he fled, Jotham declared a curse upon Abimelech and the men of Shechem if they failed to deal truthfully and well with his father's house.

The following passage tells us in Judges 9:22-24:  "After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, 23 God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers."  For a few years after the bold and shameless murder of Gideon's sons, all seemed well under the rule of Abimelech.  God then sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and this explained the scheming, backstabbing, boastful and bloody conflict that resulted in the death and destruction of the guilty parties.  The LORD God of Israel is the God of hosts, and every spirit is at His command.  God's word gives insight into how God determined to undermine their wicked covenant and alliance:  to wicked men He justly sent an evil spirit to stir them up to destroy one another.

Reading this passage gives me pause, for I believe God does not change and can employ the same method today.  God is willing and able to use anything--even malevolent spirits and proud men--to bring their own wickedness and sinister schemes upon their own heads.  It would not surprise me at all when I consider the rabid hatred and ill will we observe expressed towards fellow human beings there is a spiritual component behind the vitriol and rage God allows.  The whole world may be under Satan's sway, yet Christians need not be swept up in the violent tide as Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-12:  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."  On Christ our Rock we are enabled to stand and hold our ground.

By virtue of the Holy Spirit who spiritually regenerates born-again Christians through faith in Jesus, we are enabled to stand, protected and equipped to resist the devil and all his cleverness.  Our fight is not according to the wisdom of the world with weapons or words like sharpened swords, but we are guided to wield the word of God wisely, walk according to Gospel truth humbly and be vigilant in prayer.  We are not called to physical attacks against enemies of Christ or to lead a rebellion against the government, for the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to pull down strongholds in our own minds, proud imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, and to be faithful in obedience to Him.  While some Christians expend a great deal of effort to expose evil in the world, the war we face is won by careful dealing with the natural, fleshly condition of our own hearts and minds by bringing every thought into submission and obedience to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).  Jesus has already triumphed, and we walk in victory by grace through faith in Him.

How easily the spoils of God's victory can become a snare to the saved and the victorious when we forget the LORD!  How wonderful and awesome is God who catches arrogant schemers in their own craftiness, and by one spirit of ill will God is able to confound the proud and bring His good purposes to fruition in due time.  Praise the LORD Jesus Christ rules over all now and forever!

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