Angel
spotting! Have you ever wished you could close your eyes and when you open them, see God’s angels at work? Don’t you think that would be exciting? The Bible says angels are all around us. We know that they guard and protect us. We are confident that at the immediate time of death, they carry the souls of God’s people to heaven. But don’t you wish you could see the angelic team at work? It would be fascinating, although it may likely never happen.
In 2 Kings chapter 6, we read that the king of Aram was at war with Israel. His plan was to destroy God’s people. Yet each time he made plans to move his army, the Israelites discovered his secret strategy. This frustrated the king, and he wondered who was telling the enemy his secrets. “‘Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?’ [he asked]. ‘None of us, my lord the king, . . . but Elisha, the prophet . . . tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom’” (6:11,12). It was God who whispered to Elisha each of the enemy’s moves. Finally the wicked king would take no more. “‘Go, find out where [Elisha] is,’ the king ordered, ‘so I can send men and capture him’” (6:13). Word reached the king of Aram that Elisha was staying in the town of Dothan. The king “sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city” (6:14).
Early the next morning, Elisha’s servant rose from his bed and looked out the window. He was shaken when he saw the fields that surrounded the city filled with enemy soldiers, waiting to attack. “‘Oh, my lord, what shall we do?’ the servant cried” (6:15).
What would you have done? The options were few: run, hide, surrender, or fight! Elisha’s servant feared his time on earth was coming to an end.
But Elisha remained cool and calm. He knew something that his servant did not. He said to his servant, “‘Don’t be afraid. . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant=s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (6:16,17).
Can you imagine the sight? For a brief moment in time, Elisha and his servant saw God’s angels, positioned and ready to fight. They were given a special glimpse of God’s warriors at work. These two mortals saw hundreds, perhaps thousands, of God’s army poised in their flaming chariots waiting for the command to charge. What thoughts must have raced through their minds! They were behind-the-scenes witnesses of God’s holy realm. It surely was a sight these two men remembered for the rest of their lives. What a blessing for them to actually see God in action. What assurance and comfort they must have felt once they saw with their own eyes what God sees every day. And what a reassuring lesson we can learn from this as well.
God has told us time and again that he loves us and cares for us. He repeatedly assures us that he sends his angels to watch over us and protect us. We need to daily thank God for this army of blessings. Angels are at work day and night, guarding and protecting God’s children. What an invisible blessing God has provided for us. And one day, God will remove the blinders from our eyes and we will see the host of angels for ourselves. What a glorious sight that will be!
Lord God, thank you for your amazing blessing of angels. Amen.
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