Travelling Angel

Here is our text, our fully lit tree of angel lights. Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. Exodus 14: 19a NIV

There are four introductory facts about angels, which are offered to us from our quoted verse.

Then the angel of God - Angels are of two kinds. If there is an angel of God, there is an angel of Satan. We can safely believe that there are Godly angels and satanic angels.

Who had been travelling - Angels are able to travel with people. We can wisely believe and receive that there are travelling angels.

In front of Israel’s army - Angels are able to go in front, to lead. We can strongly believe and agree that there are leading angels.

Withdrew and went behind them. Angels are able to go behind and follow. We can rightly believe and accept that there are travelling angels, who are following us.

We are taken to the Advent story and listen to what Matthew shares with us about the angel who goes to Joseph. It was on the occasion when Joseph, who was a happy man, had his lights turned off, as it were, when he realized that Mary was pregnant. Come on! That is pure, unadulterated evidence and convincing proof of Mary’s gross unfaithfulness and unforgivable betrayal. It is in this dark night of his happy days with the love of his life, that an angel of the Lord goes to him. But while he thought about these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1: 20.

Earlier, in a previous offering, we were told that angels were working with human hearts and minds, as they prepared, pronounced, promoted, persuaded, proclaimed, praised and protected. To do some, if not the majority of their work, they have to travel. How has this angel with Joseph, been travelling with him, all along? Let’s discuss a few interesting and illuminating facts.

Joseph, a child of God, and a just one at that, is facing a very grave dilemma, just as the children of God. Like them, this is one of the darkest times in his life and, just like the children of Israel, he is not handling it as God would have him. His thoughts, like theirs, are far from the thoughts of God. Listen to them, as they are dissatisfied with what has happened to them. They are thinking and saying that it would have been better to remain in Egypt and die there, than to face what they are now facing. How wrong they were in their thoughts, for God was working out for them, a better life, through their unilluminated and unenlightened thoughts. Joseph is thinking of divorcing Mary, as he is most disillusioned by what has happened to him. How wrong he was in his thoughts, for God was working out for him, a more holy and greater serving life, through his unilluminated and unenlightened thoughts.

Having exposed similarities in each case, we note the angel with Joseph, carefully observing how he has been traveling with Joseph throughout. This gives us enough sight for us to gain insight from it about the angel travelling with them. He has been travelling with Joseph’s mind, for he knows exactly when Joseph’s change of happy and noble thoughts are overtaken by disappointment, pain, betrayal and more, and the responses that naturally come from such dark times. What is this illuminating in us? It is that God’s angels travel with us on our smooth paths and on our rough paths, bringing light to our darkness. 

We are also given insight to believe that he was travelling with Joseph and Mary even before, for he had to have been present when Mary was given conception by the Holy Spirit. What I mean is that he had to have been in their affairs all along, as he was travelling with them, and well acquainted with all that was going on with this couple, from day to day.

I believe, with all my heart that our Lord has brought this light of truth to us to make us fully aware and conscious that God’s heavenly angels do travel with us and watch over us. Is our God so powerless that He can only afford to place His human angels with us? 

May God save us from the darkness of limiting Him to what is earthly, carnal, and simply of the flesh. May we know such new, bright illuminating, and lighting, concerning heavenly angels especially, that we will be glorious witnesses of this truth.  

How Brilliantly Beautiful!