I KNEW IT NOT

"And Jacob awaked out of sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not"
(Genesis 28:16).

God is omnipresent and yet He is very personal. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, 6). How many times have we experienced the presence of God in our lives and yet not realized it? How many times have we received angelic deliverance and yet not realized it until afterwards?

I think it would be good for each one of us to become more aware of God's presence moving in our lives and protecting us. I can remember two vivid occasions in my life where I know I would be dead apart from angelic deliverance. How many other times have I not even realized God's hand protecting me? I think of our children and grandchildren and know that they are only alive by the miraculous angelic protection of God. I am sure our family keeps the angels busy.

Just the other week Evangeline was kayaking with her husband. Rounding the corner, the wide river narrowed to just a few yards with a tree fallen across the path. No way out of the fast current or escape from the tree. The kayak caught, flipped, and pinned her underneath the raging torrent with the paddle strap hooked around her leg.

Fortunately her husband was about 30 yards behind. Flying to the rescue and diving under, he was still not able to free her. Eventually he had to pass the knife to Evangeline who miraculously cut herself free while under the current. The angels were at the rescue.

Another time she was out hunting in Minneapolis in minus 20 degree weather when she fell through the ice into a swift moving river underneath the snow and ice. The night before her, husband had randomly told her how to try and save yourself if ever in such a freak situation happened. Once again the angels came to the rescue. The problem with our family is that they are too adventurous.

We also read many wonderful accounts in the Bible where God came in the form of a Christophany (a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ) or sent His angels and yet His servants did not realize it. Let's remind ourselves of just some of these wonderful testimonies:

Genesis 28:10-22
Do you remember the wonderful night when God appeared to Jacob in a dream? He saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder from earth to Heaven and at the top God appeared and spoke generational promises to him of blessing and multiplication. When he woke up, he said, "'Surely the LORD is in this place, but I did not realize it!' He was afraid and said, 'What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than he house of God! This is the gate of heaven!'" (NET).

2 Kings 6:8-23
This passage tells us about the king of Syria being at war with Israel. Every time he planned an ambush in a certain place, God would tell Elisha the place who would then tell the king of Israel. The Syrian king was furious and could not understand who was leaking his plans. Eventually he found the culprit was Elisha who told the king of Israel everything he said and even what he whispered in his bedroom! He was going to put a stop to this and sent a mighty fighting force of horses and chariots to surround the city of Dothan.

When Elisha's servant woke in the morning and saw the city surrounded with horses and chariots he was desperately afraid. But it didn't deter Elisha who said: "Do not be afraid, for THOSE WHO ARE WITH US ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEM.' Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.' So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:16, 17 ESV).

2 Chronicles 32:1-8, 20-23.
King Hezekiah also understood God's angelic protection when King Sennacherib came to fight. He confessed to the people: "'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for THERE ARE MORE WITH US THAN WITH HIM. With him is an arm of flesh but WITH US IS THE LORD OUR GOD, to help us and to fight our battles'" (ESV).

Daniel 3: 1-30 and 6:16-23
We are familiar with the wonderful deliverance God gave to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace and yet came out without even the smell of fire upon them. Only because "The Son of God" walked in the fire with them. God also sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths so they could not touch Daniel.

Luke 24:13-35
I love this story where Jesus appeared to the disciples who were miserably walking home to the village of Emmaus because Jesus had been crucified. They had no hope. They thought all was finished. Jesus came alongside them and began to reveal Himself to them through the Scriptures. Even though their hearts burned within them as he talked with them, they didn't know it was Him. It was only as they sat at the meal table with them that they recognized him.

Acts 12:5-11
Peter thought he was seeing a vision when the angel came to deliver him from prison. It wasn't until the angel left him in the street that he realized that he had actually been miraculously delivered by an angel.

As mothers, our hearts are very burdened for the protection of our children. Every day my husband I pray for the protection of every individual member of our family--over 60 names to pray for every morning. We pray that God will keep them from all accident, harm, sickness, and danger--and all enemy attack. I know you pray for children too. But we must believe that God answers our prayers. He sends His angels to watch over them, even when we don't know it.

Hebrews 1:14 says of the angels: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be hairs of salvation?" Thank God daily for His ministering angels even when you don't see the miracles they are performing.

Psalm 34:7: "The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them."

And there are enough angels for all. Luke 2:13 tells us that a "multitude" of angels heralded Jesus' birth. Psalm 68:17 says: "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels." When Daniel describes the Ancient of days on His throne, he says that "a thousand thousands served him," which is talking about the angels (Daniel 7:9, 10).

God is working on your behalf far more than you realize.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"I thank You, Father, for Your ministering angels which You send forth to watch over us and our children. Help us to always walk in the fear of the Lord so that we can claim Your wonderful promise that Your angels are camping around us. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Because we walk in the fear of the Lord, the angels guard our house night and day.