Angels were created by God. (Colossians 1:16-17)
There are different types of angels, all serving God’s purposes on earth and in
heaven. Today and tomorrow we will be introduced to two of the angels mentioned
by name in the Bible, Gabriel and Michael.
The name,
“Gabriel” means “God is mighty.” God sends Gabriel to Daniel to give him
insight and understanding and to interpret his visions. We know he can fly as
Daniel mentions in chapter 9, verse 21, ...”he came swift in flight”… Daniel
describes him as one like a man, but when he sees him, he is terrified and
falls prostrate with his face to the ground.
Seeing
an angel is no everyday, ordinary event, although they can take on human form,
as we will discover later in our study. Just like Daniel, most angelic
encounters in the Bible are met with fear and trembling. Zechariah and Mary are
no exception.
Gabriel
appears 500 years later in the book of Luke, chapter 1. We find Zechariah serving as a priest before
God. His wife, Elizabeth, has not been able to conceive and they are very old.
An angel
of the Lord appears and, just as we saw in the book of Daniel, Zechariah is
startled and gripped with fear. (verse 12) The angel explains that their prayer
for a child has been heard and they will have a son. They are to call him John.
Zechariah
finds this difficult to believe and Gabriel introduces himself and gives us a
little more information about where he resides.
“The
angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have
been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” Luke 1:19
Six months after his
visit to John the Baptist’s father, Gabriel is sent to deliver more good news.
The GOOD NEWS about the birth of Jesus to the virgin girl. Mary is greatly
troubled.
But
the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
Luke 1:30
He continues to
explain the birth through the Holy Spirit, about her furure Son's kingdom and that he will be called the Son of God. His
last words to her are important for all of us.
“For
no word from God will ever fail.” Luke
1:37
What do we know about
Gabriel from these two books of the Bible?
· He
can fly.
· He
was sent as God’s messenger to bring good news, along with insight and
understanding. The messages he delivers are prophetic, including visions of the
last days and the fulfilling of prophecies in the births of John the Baptist
and the Messiah, Jesus.
· His
appearance brings fear and trembling and yet he “looks like a man.”
· He is immortal. His appearances to Zechariah
and to Mary are 500 years after his appearance in the book of Daniel.
· He
stands in the presence of God.
Tomorrow
we will meet the archangel, Michael.
Dear Lord,
Teach us to see with our spiritual eyes as we
imagine the heavens full of Your angels. One day we will see them face to face
just as we will see You. Thank You for
Your Word. As the words from Gabriel remind us no Word from You will ever fail.
In Jesus name.
Amen
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