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By William Van Zyl
Published in February 2025.
An army lies drowned in the waters.
It is a moonlit desert night, just beyond the Sea. The Red Sea. The Israelites crossed safely, and they defeated their enemies. Two Israelites, Ezra and Caleb, stand near a small fire, speaking in hushed tones, still shaken by the day’s shocking events. The pillar of fire still burns in the distance above them, casting long shadows across the desert sand. Ezra and Caleb are staring at the distant glow. It is a sign in the sky above them.
Ezra: Caleb, have you ever seen anything like this before? The fire is a sentinel at night, yet it does not consume. The cloud led us by day, and now, the fire watches over us.
Caleb: (quietly, in awe) No, Ezra. Never in my life. And yet, I should have expected it. The Lord of Hosts, the God of our fathers, has always been a warrior. Did He not send plagues upon Egypt? Did He not break Pharaoh with His mighty hand?
Ezra: But today, we saw His armies. Not just the fire, not just the cloud. When Pharaoh’s chariots thundered behind us, I heard something else. A wind, but more than that, a sound of chariots and warriors unseen, rushing past us over the waters.
Caleb: (his voice hushed, eyes darkening with memory) I heard it too. And when the sea began to close upon them, I saw them—the Warriors of the Lord. They rode in the storm, chariots like burning gold and horses like lightning. Their eyes flashed with the fire of heaven, and in their hands were swords that shone like the sun itself.
IMAGE: The first army on horseback with extravagant armour, spears, swords, shields, and banners. The armies of heaven? AI-generated. Copilot.
IMAGE: The auspicious banners of a second army preparing for the battle. More armies to follow? AI-generated. Copilot.
Ezra: (shivering, though the night is warm) I saw their banners, Caleb—woven from the threads of the stars, rippling majestic in the wind. Their shields were like mirrors of molten bronze, reflecting the fire of the Almighty. And their bows? Did you see their impressive bows and arrows?
Caleb: (nods, his voice filled with awe) I saw the flaming arrows, Ezra. Arrows of pure fire streaked across the sky. Firebrands sparked and flew at the speed of light. When the Egyptians cried out in fear, it was the waters they feared and the Lord’s terrifying armies. The warriors of the Lord rode upon the wild winds, their spears, swords, and shields flashing with the brightness of a thousand suns—blinding the Egyptians as they looked up at the passing armies of Jehovah.
Ezra: (whispering) And yet, we doubted. Even as the cloud moved between us and the Egyptians, shielding us in darkness while they fumbled in confusion, we doubted.
Caleb: But He was never absent, Ezra. The cloud was our fortress, the fire our banner. The very sea became His weapon. Did you not hear the cries of the Egyptians before the waters swallowed them? “The Lord fighteth for us against the Egyptians!” Our enemies saw Him, too. And yet, too late.
Ezra: (in wonder) The Lord of Hosts. The God of the armies of heaven. And He fights for us—we, who are but dust.
Caleb: (placing a hand on Ezra’s shoulder, his voice firm) We are more than dust, Ezra. We are His people. And He has called us by name.
(They fall silent, gazing at the pillar of fire as it burns steady and bright—a testament that the Lord of Hosts watches still. Above them, unseen to human eyes, the heavenly army stands guard; the chariots and horses are uneasy, the warriors’ swords unsheathed, their shields gleaming like the dawn, ever ready to fight for the people of the Almighty. At the word of the saints, they move, attack and conquer. Nothing can stand before the children of God)
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Don’t miss the amazing true story of a wind that exposed landmines for the Israeli forces in 1973 (Golan Heights [Isreal] and the Syrian Border).
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I love the name of Past Hank & Brenda Kunneman’s church in the US.
LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH
It is this phrase that prompted me.
In this article, I have endeavoured to produce an introduction with fictional flair—to hook you, the reader, in. However, in the Bible, THE LORD OF HOST’S ARMIES has been despatched many times.
I look at the most significant ones. I list them for your convenience.
The title “The Lord of Hosts” (YHWH Sabaoth) is a significant biblical designation for God, emphasising His supreme command over heavenly and earthly armies. The term “hosts” refers to vast multitudes, including angelic forces, celestial bodies, and even human armies under His control.
Table of Contents
Examples of how Jehovah interferes in human armies:
The phrase “When you hear the noise atop the mulberry trees…” comes from 2 Samuel 5:22-25, where God instructs David on how to defeat the Philistines. The sound in the trees was a divine signal that the Lord was going before them in battle.
Mulberry trees are symbolic of people (their reason/mental capacities). It means that there is confusion in their minds. Can God confuse your enemy? Yes, he did it several times in the Old Testament. He can confuse your enemies.
God Confusing the Enemy in Battle
- David and the Sound in the Mulberry Trees
- 2 Samuel 5:22-25 (KJV) – “And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.”
- This passage shows that God orchestrated supernatural signs and tactics to ensure victory.
- God Causing Confusion Among Enemy Armies
- Exodus 14:24-25 (KJV) – “And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, and took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily.”
- During the Red Sea crossing, God directly intervened to confuse and hinder Pharaoh’s army.
- Judges 7:22 (KJV) – “And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.”
- When Gideon and his small army attacked the Midianites with trumpets and lamps, God caused confusion, making the enemy fight themselves.
IMAGE: Two armies are turning on one another. They are confused! There is noise in the tops of the Mulberry trees (their reasoning). Remember, people are like trees. God can confuse your enemy. AI-generated image (Canva).
- 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 (KJV) – “And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”
- King Jehoshaphat led Judah with worship, and God turned their enemies against each other.
A testimony of God’s intervention in 1973: Golan Heights & Syrian Border.
IMAGE: Landmines exposed by a sudden wind storm. AI-generated image: Canva (Feb 2025).
Video: The true story of a mysterious wind appearing suddenly to help some Israeli soldiers get through a field covered with land mines.
Let’s summarise God’s impact on human armies.
Throughout the Bible, God confuses enemy armies to give His people victory. The sound in the mulberry trees was a signal of divine intervention, just as He used supernatural confusion in other battles. These accounts show that when God’s people trust Him, He fights for them miraculously.
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ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL: The Armies of God – a Spiritual Force.
Let’s look at actual (spiritual) events where the Armies and the Commander of the Armies of God are mentioned in the Bible.
In the Bible, commanding the armies of the Lord (Jehovah) is not about believers giving orders to angelic hosts but rather about being aligned with God’s will so that His heavenly armies act on behalf of His people. The armies of the Lord—often referred to as the hosts of heaven—are under God’s command, and He acts according to His sovereign will. However, there are ways believers can pray and engage spiritually so that God’s angelic forces move in their favour.
Are you a spirit-filled believer? Think about the possibility of God moving His Armies and Warriors on your behalf. It is an unseen spiritual force that can defeat your enemies and the forces of darkness right here on earth!
Some Key Scriptures on God’s Armies and Angelic Intervention:
1. Joshua 5:13-15 – The Captain of the Lord’s Host
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”
Insight: Joshua encountered a divine commander—the Captain of the Lord’s army, believed by many to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. This shows that God’s armies are under His command, not human authority. However, those who obey God can have His angelic forces fighting for them.
2. Psalm 103:20-21 – Angels Obey the Word of God
“Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.”
Insight: Angels respond to the Word of God. When believers declare and pray according to God’s Word, angelic forces align with His will. Speaking and praying Scripture is a way to engage heavenly armies.
3. 2 Kings 6:15-17 – Elisha and the Angelic Armies
“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?”
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
Insight: The armies of heaven were present, but the servant could not see them until Elisha prayed. This teaches that divine armies actively protect God’s people, even when unseen.
4. Daniel 10:12-13 – Angelic Warfare in Response to Prayer
“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”
Insight: Daniel’s prayers moved angelic forces. Though Daniel did not command them, his prayers activated their engagement in spiritual battles.
5. Matthew 26:53 – Jesus and the Legions of Angels
“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”
Insight: Jesus could have called on legions of angels, but He submitted to the Father’s plan. This indicates that angelic hosts respond to prayer and alignment with God’s will.
6. Revelation 19:11-14 – Jesus Leads Heaven’s Armies
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
Insight: Jesus is the supreme commander of God’s armies, and the armies of heaven move at His command.
In Conclusion:
The Lord of Hosts commands both heavenly and earthly armies to protect, guide, and execute divine justice. His armies act through angelic intervention, divine presence, spiritual warfare, and prophetic fulfilment, ensuring the safety and redemption of His people. The concept of the Lord’s hosts ultimately points to God’s supreme authority and His unwavering commitment to His covenant.
Copyright © 2025 by William Van Zyl
Armies and Warriors that Never Sleep.
All rights reserved. This eBook/article or any portion
thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
without the publisher’s express written permission, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, February, 2025
More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/
More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/
In a time where war threatens to engulf much of the world it is important to know where your help will come from. Thank you William! This is a relevant message for today!
Hi Hennie. Thanks for your positive and encouraging response. It is much appreciated! Regards. William Van Zyl.