Topic: Angels (Hebrews 1)
The word “angel” is used consistently in the Bible. They were present at creation. Job said in Job 38:4-7 that they “shouted for joy” at creation. They were present at the fall. Angels were stationed to guard Adam and Eve away from the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:41). Angels were active in the rescue of Hagar and Lot, Jacob experienced a stairway with angels ascending and descending, at the Passover there was an angel, when the Law was given angels were present (Deuteronomy 33:2), at the Birth of Jesus there were angels, at the stoning of Stephen there were angels. Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 177 times in the New Testament.
In Hebrews 1:14, we read God’s job description for angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” Take note of what God tells us about the angels. They are “sent out” or “dispatched” to come to our need, to render service, to provide the assistance necessary.
History communicated that God had dispatched angels to watch over George Washington to fulfill His plan to establish and bless the United States of America. Yet, there is an even greater one who is “the Lord of Hosts” (as he is called), the captain of the army of heaven. The King Eternal who created the world, came into it, and is coming again who is the greatest of all because He is Lord of all, and all the angels know it, declare it, celebrate it and remind us of it.
The point is that God has provided angelic help as we fight the spiritual battle. You are not in life alone. Not only do we have the person of God with us, but we have the “staff” of God with us. God uses angels to help us fulfill His plan.
Hebrews 1 communicates how angels serve (you and me) – the inheritors of salvation. In other words, we have an invisible army of angels. The angels by their mere existence stand to point to Jesus as the greatest, and how the world, and any other things pales in attraction to knowing Jesus. Angels remind us of creation, the birth of Jesus and the return of Jesus.
The author of Hebrews was writing to Jews who were seekers of angels. A visit by an angel would be a highlight of someone’s life. Abraham was visited by an angel, Jacob was visited by angels, and Ezekiel was ushered up to heaven and saw angels. Up next to a visit from God; the visit of an angel topped the list.
To clear matters up, Hebrews begins with the greatness of Jesus by giving a lesson about angels through magnifying Jesus. May we seek after Jesus, not angels.
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem