Rabbi Simon began in the name of Rabbi Eliezer: “The Lord is the God of hosts [tzevaot], the Lord is His designation” (Hosea 12:6), He carries out His will [tzivyono] upon His creations. Alternatively, “the God of hosts,” he carries out His will upon His angels. When He wishes, He makes them sit, as it is stated: “An angel of God came and sat beneath the terebinth” (Judges 6:11). At times, He makes them stand, as it is stated: “Seraphs standing” (Isaiah 6:2).
And it is written: “I will grant you movement among those standing” (Zechariah 3:7).3The reference is to angels standing. At times He makes them in the guise of women, as it is stated: “Behold, two women emerged and wind was in their wings” (Zechariah 5:9), and at times, in the guise of men, as it is stated: “Behold three men” (Genesis 18:2). At times He makes them into winds, as it is stated: “He renders His angels winds” (Psalms 104:4), and at times, fire, as it is stated: “Flaming fires His servants” (Psalms 104:4).
Alternatively, “the Lord is the God of hosts [tzevaot],” He carries out His will [tzivyono] upon the world. When He wished, He produced bread from the earth, as it is stated: “To produce bread from the earth” (Psalms 104:14). He brought down water from the heavens, as it is stated: “From the rain of the heavens, it drinks water” (Deuteronomy 11:11). When He wished, He raised water from the earth, as it is stated: “Rise, well, call to it” (Numbers 21:17), and He brought down manna from the heavens, as it is stated: “Behold, I will rain down bread for you from the heavens.”