Angel visits

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Judges 13-15; Psalm 74

TO CHEW ON: "And the Angel of the Lord said to him, 'Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?'" Judges 13:18

An amazing thing happened to Manoah's barren wife. An angel visited her, told her she would have a son, and gave instructions for how she should live during her pregnancy as well as how to raise her soon-to-be-born little boy.

When she told Manoah, he prayed for an another angel visitation and the Angel appeared to his wife again, stuck around long enough for Manoah to meet Him, quiz Him, even offer Him food.

Did you notice my capitalizations there? That's because in this instance it seems that the Angel was none other than God Himself—a theophany—the Angel of the Lord as distinct from an angel of the Lord. Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology chapter on angels says:

"Who is the Angel of the Lord? Several passages of Scripture, especially in the Old Testament, speak of the angel of the Lord in a way that suggests that he is God himself taking on a human form to appear briefly to various people in the Old Testament.

In some passages "the angel of the Lord" (not "an angel of the Lord") is spoken of as the Lord himself. [He goes on to give some examples and continues] .... These are clear instances of the angel of the Lord or the angel of God appearing as God himself, perhaps more specifically as God the Son taking on a human body for a short time in order to appear to human beings" - Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 401.

In addition, in this case the fact that the Angel says His name is "wonderful" reminds us of Isaiah 9:6 where "Wonderful" is one of the names of the coming Messiah.

Why did God choose to visit Manoah and his wife in this way? Why does God ever break through in supernatural visitations and unexplainable phenomenon? Some time ago I read a fascinating book called Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters. It is a collection of first-person and as-told-to stories of people who have experienced angelic visits.

Compiler James Stuart Bell in the Introduction gives us some reasons as to why God may choose to break through in such ways:

"The supernatural world, the world revealed to us in the Scriptures, is normally apprehended by faith and not by our senses. But at times, though they may be few and far between, for God's own mysterious reasons, we are allowed a window into that world. He may be trying to warn us about some danger, encourage our faith, or provide guidance in terms of our behaviour .... Some of these experiences may be meant to be shared to edify others ... these very personal stories ... convey how much God cares for us and how active and close He is to us—fighting our battles and revealing the eternal consequences of our choices and behaviour, even our thoughts and attitudes here on earth" - James Stuart Bell, "Introduction," Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters, Kindle Location 130 (emphasis added).

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for Your involvement in human existence. Thank You for these stories of angel visits—old and new—that reinforce Your reality and how much You care for us. Amen.

PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 74

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Why angels?

Image: Pixabay

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Daniel 12:1-13

TO CHEW ON: "At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people." Daniel 12:1

Through this passage and a couple of others in Daniel we get a glimpse into the realm of angels.

Here Daniel, speaking as the prophetic mouthpiece of God describes the archangel Michael as the "great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people." Earlier a heavenly messenger sent to Daniel in answer to his prayer speaks of Michael as "one of the chief princes" and "Michael your prince" - Daniel 10:13,21.

Angel Power
It's evident that Michael is a powerful being. In a chapter on angels in his Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem says of angelic power:

*Angels apparently have very great power. They are referred to as:
- "You mighty ones" - Psalm 103:20.
- "powers" - Ephesians 1:2q.
- "dominions and authorities" - Colossians 1:16.  

*Angels are seemingly "greater in might and power" than rebellious human beings - 2 Peter 2:11; Matthew 28:2. 

For the time of their earthly existence humans are "lower than the angels" - Hebrews 2:7. 

The power of angels is used to battle against the evil demonic powers under the control of Satan - Daniel 10:13, Revelation 12:7,8; Revelation 20:1-3.
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, pp.400,401).

Why Angels?
Grudem delves into the place of these fascinating beings. He gives five reasons for angels (and proves each statement with many supporting scriptures, which I'm not listing):

1. Angels show the greatness of God's love and plan for us - Hebrews 2:7.
2. Angels remind us that the unseen world is real - 2 Kings 6:17.
3. Angels are examples for us - Matthew 6:10.
4. Angels carry out some of God's plans - Revelation 12:7,8.
5. Angels directly glorify God - Psalm 103:20'
- Grudem, Op. Cit, pp. 402-405.

Guardian Angels?
Do angels interact with us personally? Do we each have a guardian angel, as we've often been told?

The idea of a personal guardian angel is rooted in Jesus' words in Matthew 18:10:  "'Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.'"

Though the Bible doesn't explicitly say that an angel has been assigned to each one of us, the fact that one of angels' jobs is to protect people is reassuring:

"For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone."
Psalm 91:11,12.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for angels—these spirit beings that work in cooperation with You, though often unseen by us, to further Your purposes and glory. Amen.  
 
MORE: Feast of Saint Michael and all Angels
Today is the day the church celebrates the feast of Saint Michael and all Angels. The liturgy for the day begins with this prayer:

"Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Busy angels

"The Dream of St. Joseph"
by Rembrandt - 1645

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Matthew 2:13-23

TO CHEW ON: "Now when they had departed behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.'" Matthew 2:13

The angels were busy during the time of Christ's birth. That busyness started with an appearance to Zacharias to tell of John the Baptist's birth. Six or so months later the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she was the chosen mother of God's Son.

When Mary's pregnancy became obvious, an angel appeared to Joseph reassuring him that the conceived child was of the Holy Spirit and he could go ahead and marry her.

At Jesus' birth angels announced the news to shepherds.

After the wise men visit we have the incidents we read of today where an angel warned Joseph to flee with his family to Egypt (Matthew 2:13). He got another angel visit when it was time to return home after the danger was past (Matthew 2:20). A divine visit even confirmed his fearful feelings about settling in Judea (Matthew 2:22).

Angels make a fascinating study. They get whole chapters in theology textbooks and rightly so, for they populate the Bible from cover to cover. My systematic theology book has a section called "The Work of Good Angels in General." Their duties and responsibilities:

1. They stand before God and worship Him (Matthew 18:10; Revelation 5:11).

2. They protect and deliver God's people (Genesis 19:1, 10-11; Acts 5:19).

3. They guide and encourage God's servants (Matthew 28:5-7; Acts 27:23-24).

4. They interpret God's will to men (Job 33:23; Daniel 7:16).

5. They execute judgment toward individuals and nations (Acts 12:23; Genesis 19:12-13).

6. They carry the saved home when they fall asleep in Jesus (Luke 16:22). — H. C. Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology, p. 205-207.

Have you ever seen or been helped by an angel? I have been surprised when the topic of angels comes up, how many people tell of angelic visitations. (More O.F. devos about angels, with an angel story or two, HERE)

How comforting it is to know that God has an army of helpers at the ready to inspire, aid, shield, and guide us, to interpret God's will to us, and to help bring it to pass.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for all the ways You minister Your providence, including assigning angels to work on my behalf. Amen.

MORE: Angelology

In the introduction to the section on angels, Thiessen writes:

"The doctrine of angels follows logically the doctrine of God, for the angels are primarily the ministers of God's providence. Although the Scriptures have much to say about angels, there is today a very general disregard, often amounting to a rejection of the doctrine. Various things have contributed to this attitude. There is first the Gnostic worship of angels (Colossians 2:18); then there are the often foolish speculations of the Scholasticism of the Middle Ages; and then, finally, there is the exaggerated belief in witchcraft in more recent times. Yet there are many reasons for believing in angels (his points abbreviated):


1. Taught in Scripture.
2. Evident in the demon possession and demon worship in heathen lands.
3. Practice of Spiritualism.
4. The work of Satan and the evil spirits in hindering the progress of grace in our own hearts and the work of God in the world (Ephesians 6:12).


— H. C. Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology, page 190.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Angels—seen and unseen

"The Temptation" by Alexandre Bida
depicting Satan, the prince of fallen angels,
tempting Jesus. 

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Acts 5:17-42

TO CHEW ON: "But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, 'Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.'" Acts 5:19,20

I've told the story here before of how my husband and his parents, on a late night drive through a snowstorm in northern Ontario, followed tire tracks through the snow. Though these were fresh tracks—had to be because the wind and snow would have obliterated them in minutes—they never saw the back lights or any other sign of the vehicle leaving them. Once out of the storm the tracks disappeared. Was an angel guiding them?

The apostles never had to ask such a question. The angel that came to them not only opened the prison doors and led them to freedom but talked to them, telling them what to do next.

There are more references to angels in the New Testament than the Old, states a sidebar article in my Bible. Perhaps their ramped-up activity had to do with who they announced. Jesus' arrival buzzed with angel activity:

• An angel told Zacharias he would have a son who would be God's forerunner (Luke 1:11-17).

• An angel told Mary she would be Jesus' mother (Luke 1:26,27).

• An angel reassured Joseph about Mary and told him not to divorce her but to take her as his wife (Matthew 1:20).

• A single angel, accompanied later by a host announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:9,13).

• An angel warned Joseph to flee Bethlehem so Jesus' life would be spared from jealous Herod (Matthew 2:13).

• Angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation (Matthew 4:110.

Here are some Bible details about the origin, nature, presence and function of good and bad (fallen) angels:

1. Angels are beings created by and for God - Colossians 1:16. 
2. Jesus has authority over angels in heaven - 1 Peter 3:22. 
3. Angels spend much time there praising and worshiping God and Jesus - Revelation 5:11,12.
4. Angels desire to "look into" prophecy about Jesus and its fulfillment - 1 Peter 1:12. This tells us that they don't have full knowledge of these things.  
5. Good angels are called "ministering spirits." At least one of their jobs is to minister to (help, serve) those who will "inherit salvation" - Hebrews 16:14. 
6. Some angels sinned and will be judged - 2 Peter 2:4. 
7. Fallen angels are a believer's enemies. We need to resist them—something we can only do with the proper spiritual armor - Ephesians 6:12,13.

I love it that God's plan and design includes these mysterious beings, and look forward to the time in eternity when their presence will be visible and understood.


PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to be as obedient, adoring, and worshipful as angels. Amen.

MORE: I'd love to see an angel.

This piece I wrote a few years ago expresses how I feel about angels. (It includes some details I gathered from the Bible about their appearance and what they did.)

And suddenly an angel host …
(Luke 2:13)

I’d be content with one
wings and eyes
swords and shining
clothed in linen
belted with gold
body like beryl
face like lightning
eyes like torches
feet of brass
voice like a multitude
calling from heaven
“Arise and eat”
opening prison doors
touching me
taking charge of me
taking my hand
to drag me to safety
bringing me out
keeping me in the way
moving ahead, behind
a fire, a cloud
shutting the mouths of lions
bringing me to the place
carrying me to Abraham’s bosom
surrounded by heaven’s host
where angels will no longer
be a big deal.

© 2013 - Violet Nesdoly

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The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. - Used with permission.