Commanding the Angels - Updated from original posting on 1/4/24

 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: 

and he called the name of that place Mahanaim

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

And he commanded them, saying...

Genesis 32:1-4

In Genesis 32:1 the word translated angels in Hebrew is Mal'ah'kei (Strong's #4397). It certainly means angels, but can also be translated messengers. In context, we see they are messengers of God and that he saw them as God's host, or more correctly translated: God's camp. Which is why he called the name of the place Mah'cha'na'eem - meaning "Camps".

But in the very next verse we read, "And Jacob sent messengers..." Can you guess what that Hebrew word is? If you guessed, Mal'ah'keem (plural for Mal'ah'kei in Hebrew), you are correct. So why then would the translators translate this differently? Over the years, the Jewish sages have argued if this was heavenly messengers or human messengers. 

If we follow the context, I would be inclined to believe it to be heavenly messengers. Only a short time later, in the same chapter, we find Jacob wrestling with a supernatural being. At that time, God changed his name from Jacob to Israel, meaning a Prince of God. 

We often hear sermons and discourses on how Jacob was a deceiver, thief, liar, etc. but throughout his life, we see that he had power with God and men. Jacob lived in two realms. Sure, he deceived his brother from his birthright, and he deceived Laban out of his sheep and goats, and he also deceived his father. But we see God turning him around. In the midst of all this, we see him looking into the supernatural realm on many occasions. The night he fled from Esau, he saw the angels of God in a dream (Genesis 28:12).

Then we come to our current story. He has now fled from Laban. Both times, he encounters God and receives a message. God promises to be with him and return him to the land of his nativity. And both times, he sees the angels of God. 

But this time, it appears from the Hebrew text that he dispatches and commands the angels. He sends the angels of God with a message to Esau. 

How interesting that even after seeing the heavenly hosts and sending them with a message, that when they return with a report, Jacob is greatly afraid (32:7). It is following this event that he encounters the Angel of God's face (or Presence in Hebrew). 

We also find Elisha seeing the angels and heavenly hosts when Elijah was taken up and later, when he blinds the Syrian army: And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17  It would appear that Elisha's eyes were always open to these divine messengers. Even at his death, when Joash the king comes to his deathbed, the king cries out, "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." (2 Kings 13:14). It's as if the Lord opened the kings eyes to see the camp round about Elisha.

David exclaimed, The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7 and in another place, he declared, The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Psalm 68:17

 I'm not advocating that we are to command the angels of God. We are certainly commanded not to worship them, but I do find these passages interesting to note and be reminded that the messengers of God are ever present. There are many, many passages in the Bible where God sends them to minister to his people. The New Testament gives many accounts of the divine messengers of God intervening and providing support. 

In Hebrews 1:14, the writer says of the angels, Are they not ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation? In Matthew 4:11, after the temptations of Jesus, while He had fasted forty days in the wilderness, we read, Then the devil leaves Him, and, behold, ANGELS came and ministered unto him. Another example of how the angels ministered to God's chosen is found in 1 Kings 19 where Elijah had been hiding from Jezebel and was praying that he might die. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, "Arise and eat." And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee." And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 1Kings 19:5-8

Then, we find numerous accounts in the book of Acts, how that the early church was visited and assisted by the angels of God. While the apostles were imprisoned for working the works of Jesus, we find But the angel of the LORD by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of the Life. Acts 5:18-19 A similar situation happens to Peter in Acts 12. An angel of God came to Cornelius in Acts 10 and told him how to get in touch with Peter to come and baptize him. There are many other examples in the book of Acts how that the early church was helped or directed by angels. 

Again, I wish to remind you, we do not worship angels. I have tried to be very cautious not to have figures of angels or pictures that depict angels, because this can become a source of idolatry in many believers' lives. They are at God's disposal and command. But I do believe it is important that we be reminded that they are present among those who fear the Lord.

The Old Country Church from my Childhood

I have had the opportunity to reconnect with some old places and people from my childhood over the past few weeks, being in Alabama. On Monday (8/5) I heard that a family friend in the area had passed away. I had just spent time reminiscing with his mother the day before. The visitation for the family was on Thursday evening and I decided after the funeral on Friday I would “trespass” on private property to see the old church I went to as a small child. 

While at the visitation, one of the deceased’s relatives introduced me to their father and informed me that he owns the property of the church. I knew this was a divine connection.

So after the funeral on Friday afternoon, I made my way over to the old church. It is still standing, although it seems so much smaller than it did when I was a child. The steps don’t seem as intimidating.  The out house was still standing, but barely could be seen because of all the overgrowth.

As I stood there, although it was a nostalgic feeling, I knew that there was something else happening in the Spirit. This is the church where several young girls were taken advantage by a couple of predators. There are only about three or four people still alive who were from my parents generation in that church.  Many, if not all of the children and grandchildren of that generation have been affected in their relationships and marriages. 

The next morning while praying, the Scripture from Proverbs kept going over and over in my head. I knew it was speaking, prophetically about this church:

I  went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall thy poverty come as one that travels, and thy want as an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34

Learn the parable of the overgrown church: because sin was allowed to sit on the pews, iniquity took root and spread until it destroyed the congregation. There were those who were able to escape it, but none was unaffected by it.  If sun is not dealt with, it takes root and begins to spread until it destroys not only one person’s life, but the whole community. And finally, the stone walls, for the barriers begin to crumble and it spreads far and wide. 

Jesus is the only way. He is the answer to the sin problem. Only by His blood is there forgiveness and deliverance!