Do You Believe in Angels?
A friend and I were visiting yesterday. She was feeling discouraged and sad because of some things over which she had no control. She was worried but she is a Christian and was reminding herself that God knows her troubles. We all feel overwhelmed sometimes and have no idea which way to turn to find peace of mind. Since the time of Adam and Eve, people have been plagued with trouble. When these times come, we have one truth we can rely on– God’s Word. I found a passage in II Kings 6:8-23 where the prophet Elisha was besieged by such a huge force of enemy soldiers that escape was an impossibility. That story had a surprise ending and one I found to be humorous.
Syria’s king was out for blood. He was determined to defeat Israel but every time he set a trap for King Jehoram, God revealed the plan to the Prophet Elisha, who warned Israel’s king about each ambush. Syria’s king was puzzled and frustrated. How, he asked, did it always happen that Israel knew about and escaped his secret entrapments? It’s the prophet Elisha, the king’s servants told him. It’s all Elisha’s fault. He knows and warns Jehoram.
So Syria’s king set many soldiers to surround the place where Elisha and his servant lived. When Elisha’s servant saw that huge force of enemy soldiers with their weapons, chariots and horses, he was terrified and asked Elisha what they were going to do. Elisha replied with the words that have reassured generations of believers, “Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (v. 16). Then God opened the servant’s eyes and he saw what Elisha saw: the army of God with horses and chariots of fire, all around them.
It seems reasonable to think that the Syrians were destroyed by God’s army but that is not what happened. God, through Elisha, took care of the matter in quite an unexpected and unorthodox way. The point is, God handled it and the battle was won.
When we get sad and discouraged and think there is no solution to a problem, it is good to remember we too are surrounded by God’s care. We might not be able to see those angels but they are real and we have nothing to fear.
First published a few years ago but just as true now as then.
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