How Do Angels Help Us?

The Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.
–Numbers 22:31

One of the most often recounted stories about angels helping believers involves missionary John G. Paton, who ministered in the New Hebrides islands. One evening, John and his wife were surrounded by hostile natives who were intent on burning the Patons’ hut and killing the missionaries.

John Paton says he and his wife spent a terror-filled evening desperately praying for God’s supernatural deliverance. When daylight came, John says they looked out the window–and mysteriously the hostile natives had disappeared.

About a year later, the chief of that tribe was converted to faith in Christ. And John Paton, remembering what had happened that evening, asked the chief why they did not attack them that night. The chief seemed surprised and said it was because of the men who were surrounding the hut.

Perplexed, John said, “There were no men surrounding our hut.” The chief insisted, “Oh, yes, there were. We saw hundreds of men in bright, shining garments standing before your hut with swords drawn ready to protect you. We didn’t dare invade.”

John Paton said at that moment he began to understand the delivering power of angels. The chief agreed there was no other possible explanation.

Every day, you and I have things that happen in our lives that can only be explained through the presence and the working of angels. Angels are a very real power in our world today. And although the Bible is clear that we are never to substitute the worship of angels for the worship of Jesus Christ, understanding the reality and the ministry of angels helps us to more fully appreciate how much God really loves us and how He is working in our lives every day.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “The Angels And You” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2018.

Billy Graham, “Angels: God’s Secret Agents,” 2nd ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 7-8

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.