9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
Scripture highlights angels’ roles in assisting believers, with passages like Psalm 91 suggesting God sends angels to protect His people. Angels are seen as God's invisible workforce, executing His divine plans and offering assistance and defense to His followers.
Many missionaries tell of unusually stories that are attributed to angels. In his book, "Angels, God’s Secret Agents" Billy Graham tells of Reverend John G. Paton, pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see that, unaccountably, the attackers had left. They thanked God for delivering them.
"A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Paton, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men you had with you there?" The missionary answered, "There were no men there; just my wife and I." The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard - hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack. Only then did Mr. Paton realize that God had sent His angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation."
Why is that protection provided in some cases and other not? That will be mystery to us just like why did God let Peter go free and Stephen be martyred? Ultimately all the apostles were martyred so, there are times and purposes for special protection and a time when the activity of angels is to bring us to glory from the confines of this body.
Sue Bohlin told her story in a book called “Where Angels Walk” of her husband, a pastor and evangelist in Switzerland with no money to buy food. She prayed, “God, I need five pounds of potatoes, two pounds of pastry flour, apples, pears, a cauliflower, carrots, veal cutlets for Saturday, and beef for Sunday.” A few hours later, someone knocked on the door, and there was a young man carrying a basket, who said, “Mrs. Ware, I am bringing what you asked for.” She never told anyone but God. It was precisely what she’d prayed for—down to the exact brand of pastry flour she wanted. The young man slipped away, and even though Rev. and Mrs. Ware watched at the window to their building, the man never exited. He just disappeared”
We also see how angels participate in the judgments of God. There was a death angel and another who killed many of the Assyrians. Revelations tell of the participation of the angels at the last times The various events of the coming of Christ are preceded by the seven angels with the seven trumpets and then the seven bowls of wrath. There will be tremendous tribulation, suffering and war.
The greatest judgment of them all is revealed in Rev. 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down-- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
Dale
Prayer: Father, I beleive the promises you gave us in Psalm 91. Teach me to pray with such faith and trust you for the results.
