The Troops of God
Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, "This is God's camp!"
GENESIS 32:1-2
+
The Troops of God
These are words of joy and triumph for the patriarch with great confidence and a feeling of security because of the peace given to him by God, just as though he meant to say: "Now the angels are appearing, heaven is laughing, the stormy winter has passed, and now the clear and serene light of day is shining forth." . . . But it is a matter of great and wonderful wisdom that Jacob can recognize the angels who meet him and that he can call them God's hosts, our Lord God's troops. Surely God does not have armies and hosts on earth? Yes, this is what Jacob calls all the angels. . .. The Epistle to the Hebrews (1:14) describes them in the words: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?" They are not gods or goddesses but ministers who serve the world, and who do so on account of those who will inherit eternal salvation. . .. In short, all things in heaven and earth are ordained to this end, that the righteous should be gathered together and the number of those who are to be saved should be filled up. Accordingly, this is a truly heavenly doctrine and not a matter of human reason and wisdom that in this life empires, states, and households, and, in short, whatever this world has are all governed by the ministry of the holy angels.
GENESIS 32:1-2
+
The Troops of God
These are words of joy and triumph for the patriarch with great confidence and a feeling of security because of the peace given to him by God, just as though he meant to say: "Now the angels are appearing, heaven is laughing, the stormy winter has passed, and now the clear and serene light of day is shining forth." . . . But it is a matter of great and wonderful wisdom that Jacob can recognize the angels who meet him and that he can call them God's hosts, our Lord God's troops. Surely God does not have armies and hosts on earth? Yes, this is what Jacob calls all the angels. . .. The Epistle to the Hebrews (1:14) describes them in the words: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?" They are not gods or goddesses but ministers who serve the world, and who do so on account of those who will inherit eternal salvation. . .. In short, all things in heaven and earth are ordained to this end, that the righteous should be gathered together and the number of those who are to be saved should be filled up. Accordingly, this is a truly heavenly doctrine and not a matter of human reason and wisdom that in this life empires, states, and households, and, in short, whatever this world has are all governed by the ministry of the holy angels.
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak PeaceYou May Have LifeMy Lord and My GodFishingIt Is the LordThey KnewFeed My LambsFollow HimFollowing Jesus, Not Comparing Paths
February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
2025
January
Not AshamedIn Every RespectWe Are In His HouseHear His VoiceTodayBut You BelieveRest in ChristRest in FaithRest in Christ’s WordConfidence in Our Great High PriestOur Eternal High PriestCalled by GracePerfect Through SufferingA Little MilkFoundationGod Comes to UsFaith in ChristObtaining the PromiseThe King of PeaceBlessed by the SuperiorA Priest Forever in ChristThe Forever PriestA Better HopeOur Eternal IntercessorOur Perfect High PriestOur Eternal High PriestThe Better Covenant in ChristA New CovenantPromises KeptOnly The High PriestNot the Blood of Goats