The Christmas story celebrates hosts of angels singing “Glory to the Highest!” I wondered how many times angels interacted with mankind during Old Testament times. Here’s a list of angelic ministrations I found during the Old Testament timeframe.
Adam
And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
The Gospel began to be preached by angels sent from God.
Enoch
And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.
Abraham
An angel saved Abraham from idolatrous priests’ sacrifice.
And as they lifted up their hands upon me, that they might offer me up and take away my life, behold, I lifted up my voice unto the Lord my God, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and he filled me with the vision of the Almighty, and the angel of his presence stood by me, and immediately unloosed my bands; And as they lifted up their hands upon me, that they might offer me up and take away my life, behold, I lifted up my voice unto the Lord my God, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and he filled me with the vision of the Almighty, and the angel of his presence stood by me, and immediately unloosed my bands.
Three angels visit Abraham, prophesy about Isaac’s birth, and reveal Sodom’s imminent destruction.
An angel called to Abraham stopping his sacrifice of Isaac.
Hagar
After Hagar conceived Ishmael, she despised Sarah. Sarah dealt harshly with Hagar who then ran away. An angel found her by a fountain of water and told her to return to Abraham and Sarah. He prophesied of Ishmael’s posterity.
When Abraham expelled Ishmael, the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, prophesying about Ishmael and showing her water.
Lot
Two angels met Lot in Sodom and commanded him to get his family out without looking back at the city.
Abraham’s Servant
Abraham promised an angel would accompany his servant as the servant journeyed in search of a wife for Isaac.
Jacob
Jacob saw angels ascending to and descending out of heaven on a ladder.
The angel of God spoke to him in a dream commanding him to leave Laban’s employ.
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.
Moses
Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses out of the burning bush.
House of Israel
Angel of the Lord went before the camp of Israel, and when needed, followed behind the host of Israel.
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Angel of the Lord rebuked the children of Israel for breaking their covenants. They wept at his words.
Balaam
The angel of the Lord stood in Balaam’s path to smite him, but Balaam’s donkey avoided the path. When Balaam beat the donkey, God opened the donkey’s mouth and Balaam’s eyes.
Gideon
An angel called Gideon to the Lord’s service and gives Gideon an opportunity to prove his words.
And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face. And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Manoah’s Wife
An angel appeared to Manoah’s barren wife and prophesied she would bear a son—Sampson. The angel appeared several times teaching her how to raise Sampson.
David
A destroying angel kills 70,000 men after David sins in numbering Israel. David saw the angel, offered sacrifices, and prayed to the Lord for mercy.
Elijah
An angel gives Elijah food and water twice while he travels fulfilling the Lord’s command during the famine.
An angel commands Elijah to meet king’s messengers and the king himself on different occasions, telling Elijah not to fear.
Elisha
When armies surround Elisha and servant, Elisha prays for servant’s eyes to be open.
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
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.
Hezekiah
Hezekiah withstood enemies berating the Lord. He and Isaiah prayed to the Lord for deliverance.
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego
King Nebuchadnezzar praised God for saving Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego from the fiery furnace by sending His angel to protect them.
Daniel
An angel shut lions’ mouths while Daniel was in the lions’ den.
Zechariah
Nearly the entire book of Zechariah is the prophet’s experience with angels. Angels showed Zechariah visions and taught him the interpretations of the visions.
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