Do you believe in angels? Today’s media typically portrays angels as feminine spiritual beings with wings, but according to the Bible, angels of God are given masculine names. Angels have a complex rank and order and specific tasks assigned them by God. For example, Michael is designated as an archangel and guardian of the affairs of Israel. Gabriel, also an archangel, was sent to announce messages from God. He appeared to Daniel to explain his visions. He appeared to Mary, and later to the shepherds, to announce the birth of the Savior of the world. The author of Hebrews says this about angels: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Very often guardian angels come as angels in disguise and are not recognized by man.
I wonder if angels sent by God didn’t have something to do with sparing my grandson, Ryan, and granddaughter, Faith, from what could have been a tragic accident. Ryan was driving the family van on 35W nearing the 35E split when suddenly the car he was passing moved too close into him. When Ryan moved over, the rain-soaked ground of the median pulled him too far in. He hit the guard rail going 70 mph. He slid along the rail blowing the front tire and shattering the window behind the driver’s side before careening over two lanes to the shoulder. Cars behind missed them. The vehicle’s engine had shut off so he had no power steering and a blown tire. The van was totaled. However, Ryan and Faith were unscathed; shaken up, but not even a scratch! Could angels have protected them and brought them to safety on the shoulder of a very busy freeway? I think so.
I wonder too, if God didn’t send His angels to rescue me many years ago. I was 19 when my girlfriend and I took a train to New York to see the World’s Fair. The theme that particular year was celebrating “Peace through Understanding” – applauding man’s achievements on a shrinking globe. The Fair was held on Queens and we were staying at a hotel on Manhattan.
It was late at night when we took the subway back to Manhattan. We were unfamiliar with where to get off, so we decided to get off in Times Square and find our way to the hotel. We climbed the stairs from the underground and stood trying to get our bearings, when several men circled around us – sneering like wolves closing in on their prey.
Penney and I were terrified ~
Just then, two sailors walked authoritatively into the circle. One sailor took me by my elbow while the other one took Penny’s elbow and ushered us out of the ring. Two men against five, yet unchallenged. As the sailors escorted two naive girls the mile to our hotel, they chided us gently about the dangers of young women being out alone at night in New York. We listened – grateful to be safe. We arrived at the hotel, and as we turned to thank the gentlemen, they were gone. Angels in Disguise? I think they were.
I imagine all of us at one time or another, either knowingly or unbeknownst to us, have been rescued or protected by angels in disguise.