Angels Part 1

 

    Angels are beings that live in the spiritual world unseen by most humans.  They were created by God to serve His purposes.  It comes from the Greek word angelos.  The Hebrew word is malach.  They both mean messenger.  The Aramaic word is mal'ak.  The Latin word is angeli.  

    Two angels came to the entrance of Sodom where Lot was sitting.  When he saw them he stood to greet them and welcome them.  He showed respect and inviting them to his home to clean up and stay the night.  Then he told them that they could wake up early in the morning and be on their way.  He knew the town he lived in and was trying to protect them.  

    They volunteered to spend the night in the square, but Lot insisted.  They had a feast in Lot's home, but once it was almost time to go to bed the men of the community showed up insisting that Lot give the men over to them for sex.  Lot tried to reason with them and even offered his virgin daughters over what they proposed.

    This made the men angry and the angels had to pull him back into his house to save his life.  They also blinded all the men outside.  Once Lot was inside the angels informed Lot how the city was going to be destroyed.  Lot had to get his family out of town before dawn.  God was trying to be merciful to Lot and his family.  

    When Abraham arrived to the designated location, he build an alter to God.  He tied up his only son prepared to sacrifice him as God had commanded.  At that moment God sent an angel to stop him.  Abraham had proven his faith and God was proving a different sacrifice.

    Abraham did not want Isaac to ever go to Canaan.  He wanted Isaac to stay in the promised land for all of his descendants.  He trusted God's angels to provide a wife for his son.  He sent a servant knowing that the angels would prepare Isaac's wife to come to him without ever meeting Isaac.

    Jacob left Beersheba and went to Haran.  He found a good place to set up came at sundown.  He found a stone for a pillow.  When he fell a sleep he saw a stairway to heaven.  On the stairs were angels going up and down.  

    Joseph brought his two sons to Jacob as he was dying.  Jacob placed blessings on the two boys.  He just didn't do it as was expected.  Then he blessed Joseph to multiply, angel protection, and name preserved.

    God sent an angel before His people to protect them in their journey to the promised land.  They were ordered to listen to Moses and not rebel because he was God's representative.  If you follow God intentionally and carefully, then your enemies are God's enemies.  Trust that the angels go before you and will destroy all who oppose God's will.  All you have to do is worship God and only God and walk life in obedience.

Genesis 19:1-22, 22:9-12, 24:6-8, 28:10-12, 48:12-16, & Exodus 23:20-24