Weird Wednesday: Angels in the Outfield

In recent years, I have failed to find a fictional character or creature to capture my attention as much as vampires do. They're dark, mysterious, handsome, etc. etc...until now...

Angels are the creature that are currently stealing every reading hour available as of late. I've read different takes on fallen angels, archangels, guardian angels, and the nephilim race. Authors and books include (but never limited to) Lauren Kate's Fallen series, Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series (my personal favorite), and Syrie James' Forbidden. Still to come are: Alexandra Adornetto's Halo Trilogy and James Patterson's Maximum Ride series and of course whatever else I can get my hands on that's good.

But all these mixed up fictional angel stories got me to thinking about the real angels that God has under his power. And yes, I did say real angels. God sent them as messengers and guardians in the Old Testament to warn his followers of impending danger or good news. In the New Testament we see an angel heralding the birth of Christ.

The only heavenly being I have come across is the cherubim. The first mention of a cherubim in the Bible is in Genesis 3:23-24

"therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life." (ESV)

God didn't want man to partake of the Tree of Life because He didn't want him to gain eternal life. So God placed the cherubim to protect the garden. Man is still in search of the garden trying to gain access to the fountain of youth that he is never going to find.

I found it interesting that cherubim are listed as having wings, but angels are not. (If anyone can correct me on this let me know.)

The first time we see an angel is when God sends a messenger to attend to Hagar and her son. God's plan for her is told in Genesis 16:6-9:

"But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” (ESV)

The archangel Michael (my favorite name of course) is first seen in Jude 1:9 arguing with the devil.

"But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgement, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (NASB)

Even Michael as an archangel didn't dare overstep he authority be judging the devil, but left that up to God. He is also shown in battle with the dragon in Revelation 12:7-9 when Satan is cast from heaven.

"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown with him." (ESV)

As for the Nephilim race, they are first mentioned in Genesis 6:4

"The nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown." (ESV)

But the first of two angels and their world changing news can be read in Matthew 1:20-21 when the angel comes to Joseph to foretell the birth of Christ. 

"But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'"

The second angel is found in Matthew 25:5-6 and he tells the best news we sinner could ever hope for. 

"But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I now that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.'" (ESV)

So at the end of the day, the angels have my attention hands down. They were trusted to guard the garden from man. They showed a nation it's start. Showed the devil what side he should be on at the end of the day. But most of all, they heralded the birth of Christ, my risen Lord. And loving all men with his love is what get me through the toughest days, because Hebrews 13:3 reminds me:

'Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.' (NASB)