And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. Genesis 19: 16, NKJV.
Most Gracious Heavenly Father, here we are again, waiting to hear a Word from You, a Word that will transform us and renew us, and prepare us, for an encounter with You at last! These mercies we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Today, we are returning to the beginning of our Scripture, to talk about the men who took hold of “[Lot’s] hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters[.]” For this we will have to go back to verse 1, of Genesis 19, “The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.” The men spoken of here, are really angels, in human form.
Our nugget for today, is about angels, another manifestation of the marvelous grace of God! “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 37: 4). None of us really know from how many dangers we have been spared because angels were sent from heaven to protect us!
We belong to such a loving and compassionate God! The great God of the universe did not have to disclose His plans about destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, to Abraham. But because Abraham, a sinful mortal, like you and me, was considered by God, as His friend (James 2: 23), God told Him what He was about to do “And the LORD said, ‘ “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him” ‘ ” (Genesis 18: 17-19)!
This is what we read about angels in the letter to the Hebrews: “And of the angels He says: ‘ “ Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire” . . . Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation (1: 7, 14)?
Friends, all heaven is on a mission of salvation! Their desire is to help as many as will heed the message of love and grace, to make it into the ark of safety, before it is too late! If our eyes could be opened, we would see angels flying back and forth between heaven and earth, bringing good news, comforting the sorrowing, protecting those who are in danger, taking the form of human beings at times to prevent a calamity, or to bring to pass some necessary event, for the salvation of humankind.
Look all around you, and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the many instances when your angel has kept you safe, and when you do, give God thanks for His amazing grace!
NOTE: My heartfelt regrets for the late publication of today’s devotional. We are about to bring our New Year’s Week of Prayer to an end at church (Friday and Sabbath); and I have been rather busy)! Thank you my dearest web friends and family, for your faithfulness!