Entertaining angels

Did you know that as you go through this day you may be surrounded by angels? You can't see them but they will be there.

And forget much of what you think about angels. Unfortunately, too many folks don't get their information from Scripture and are therefore horribly misinformed. This is true of angels. Often, when the topic of angels is discussed, people are thinking about dainty beings that look more like children that happen to have wings on their backs.

Not!

If that was true, why in the world do we read in Scripture that when angels showed up, the men and women who saw them fell to the ground in fear and the angels had to say, "Do not be afraid."?

When the Bible calls God the "Lord of hosts," it's saying that He is the ruler of Heaven's army (the angels are the fierce warriors in that army). They aren't to be trifled with. They are impressive beings that are capable of doing anything the Lord desires for them to do.

In my Bible reading today, I came across the story of Elisha when an army came to take him captive. That morning, Elisha's servant woke up and went out to casually view the hillside. He saw the army! He was filled with fear! And he told Elisha!

Listen to Elisha's response. He wasn't afraid at all. Why?

2 Kings 6:16-17 (New Living Translation)

"'Don’t be afraid!' Elisha told him. 'For there are more on our side than on theirs!' Then Elisha prayed, 'O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!' The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire."

Elisha and his servant were surrounded by a powerful, unspeakably impressive angelic army. It was invisible to the naked eye but it was there, nonetheless, to protect them.

Now, we may be tempted to wish that we could experience something like that. After all, wouldn't it be neat to be able to see an angel, one of God's powerful soldiers?

Well, you probably already have. Maybe even today you will meet one. Be hospitable...

Hebrews 13:2 (New Living Translation)

"Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!"