Fear the Messenger?

5/8/24 

We are to fear God (Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God…1 Peter 2:17), but are we to fear the messengers of God?  There is no other simpler reaction to seeing a holy heavenly messenger, then to fear them, as in the fear of the Lord.  Nonetheless, is this the correct response to an other-worldly interaction?   

My initial response to my question was definitely ‘yes’, I would fear a heavenly messenger or at least have great caution in their presence.  But then I started looking at the scriptures and I got a different picture of what my attitude should be.  Let me show you what I found.

First, by looking at Exodus 23 the Lord God commanded Israel that they should beware of the Angel, to obey his voice, and do not provoke him, for he will not forgive such behavior.  Dr. David Jeremiah notes: "This angel was definitely a cut above ordinary angels, for God's very 'Name' was in him. Also, he could forgive sins -- and 'who can forgive sins but God alone?' (Mark 2:7). The Angel of the Lord was personally guiding the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land."

Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. Exodus 23:20.

Because the context of this verse suggests the Angel is God Himself, and the word ‘beware’ of Him is used, it is natural to respond in a God-fearing way if we would encounter such a visitation!

But then there are other instances with angels that are to be studied.  For instance, in Luke when Zacharias received a visitation.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John…”

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”  Luke 1:11-20.

Zacharias’s natural reaction to seeing the angel was fear!  But the angel told him to fear not; and then, proceeded to announce the exciting news of John the Baptist’s birth.  Then, Zacharias scoffed in his response and the angel smote him by taking away his ability to speak.  Did you see that?  An angel is given the permission to touch us physically causing an affliction because of unbelief. 

Another account: Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn into your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” Genesis 19:1-2.

Lot was not afraid of the angelic visitors but asked them to stay with him.  Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.  When the townsmen noticed the visitors, they rose up against Lot and company. 

Now, look what happened to the ‘heathen’ who sought to hurt Lot, his daughters and their heavenly visitors: But the men (the two angels) reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.  Genesis 19:10-11.  Bam!  Blindness…no messing around with these angels!

Notice though, there was no advance warning from the angels of the coming affliction.  This can be seen again several times in the scriptures when they were dealing with God’s enemies and bringing to pass His righteous judgments.

Then the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. 2 Chronicles 32:21.

So, on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.   Acts 12:21-23.

After looking at the above scriptures, we can see that angels are given permission from God to touch humans physically, and even to kill Gods’ enemies.  So, if I were an enemy of the Lord, I would definitely fear the messenger!  But since I am a God-fearing believer in Jesus, I have no reason to fear an encounter...unless, I don’t believe them!

5/15/24 Fear the Messenger? Part 2

On the flip side, can angels give believers physical strength and blessings?

In response to that question, Archangel Raphael is associated with healing as the angel mentioned in the Gospel of John, stirring the water at the healing pool of Bethesda.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  John 5:4.

If you recall, I had an encounter with this angel via a dream.  In a nutshell, my husband and I were running with labels on our heads.  We made it to our destination, where a table was setup for dinner.  A messenger/delivery man met us there, it was evening and he had to return the way he came.  I knew he came up the same road only behind us.  I offered him a meal and fixed him a snack before he left.  Upon waking I thought of Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

I sensed the messenger was an angel after thinking of the scripture in Hebrews.  So, I figured I would ask the Lord the name of the angel, maybe He would tell me…As soon as I asked, I heard ‘Raphael.’  I didn't think any more about it because I could not find the name Raphael in my Christian Bible.  Then a month later, I read a book titled Dream Language by James and Michal Ann Goll (page 54) says that a Jewish prayer calls upon Raphael, the Angel of Healing. The prayer says "…on your right side is Michael…on your left side is Gabriel…before you is Uriel (the Angel of Light) and behind you is Raphael (the Angel of Healing)."   Me not knowing who Raphael was speaks to a mystery God resolved along with a message of hope for my healing

In another example, we see the angel Gabriel touching then, strengthening the prophet, Daniel. 

Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.  And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not!  Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”  So, when he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”  Daniel 10:11-12, 18-19. 

The beloved prophet, Elijah escaped from Jezebel and being exhausted, an angel appears bearing the blessing of food.  Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So, he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 1 Kings 19:5-7.

Of course, we have current true accounts of physical blessings brought by angels.  Such as Wanda’s account: “I have seen my angel, several times, his back and his side, to the point I even followed him into the hall, but he had vanished. Each time he touched me on my right arm I woke up…The next morning, I began to use my arm and can do nearly everything I want.”

And, we have our best example in our Savior’s prayer in the garden: He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. Luke 22:41-43.

We see from all of these true examples, that we are to welcome angels, receive them, entertain them, believe them and obey them.  In doing so, they could impart from the Lord strength, emotionally and physically, as well as healing and blessings!