Scripture reference
Genesis 3:24, Matthew 18:10, Acts 12:1-16
All theologians agree that one role of angels is to serve as guards. In fact, we see that in the very first book of the Bible, Genesis 3:24, where God places angelic sentries to protect the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were banished from it.
But a more provocative issue is this:
does each Christian have a specific guardian angel assigned to him or her?
The great Bible translator Jerome (347-419) thought so, as did Thomas Aquinas in the medieval era. Moreover, the Orthodox tradition teaches that at baptism God assigns every individual a guardian angel. Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft put it this way: “There are twice as many persons as we see in every place, every kitchen or classroom, every hospital or nursery. Only half are human persons. There is an angel standing next to each bag lady.”
Some scholars disagree, saying that this idea is only found in the apocryphal book of Tobit. But let’s look at a couple of Biblical texts that are used to support the belief that guardian angels really do exist.
In Matthew 18:10, Jesus says,
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in Heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven.
While the focus of this passage isn’t on the existence of guardian angels, wouldn’t it be reasonable to infer from the words of Jesus that they do indeed exist? After all, He references children as having their angels.
Then in Acts 12, an angel helps Peter escape from prison, and he knocks on the door of some Christians who had gathered. The servant Rhoda recognized his voice and announced it was Peter, but the others doubted it because they thought he was still imprisoned. So in verse 15, they say: “It must be his angel.”
Was this merely a reference to the first-century Jewish belief that every Jew had a guardian angel? Was the author of Acts merely reporting this view rather than endorsing it?
Not according to Douglas E. Potter, a professor who coauthored a theological book on angels. “Given Jesus’ teaching, I don’t think the author of Acts would intentionally mislead readers if the belief about Peter’s angel was a falsehood,” he told me in an interview for my new book, Seeing the Supernatural. “Why would He do that? All in all, it’s a reasonable inference that guardian angels are real. The texts are sufficiently clear, and they aren’t negated elsewhere. Besides, we know that there are certainly a sufficient number of angels to carry out this task.”
For Potter personally, the belief in guardian angels has been encouraging, comforting, and an expression of God’s love, because God is seeking to protect us from the battles in the spiritual realm as demons attempt to influence us.
I tend to agree with Potter. After all, wouldn’t it be just like our loving and gracious Father to send an angelic being to watch over the people who He loves so much? Given God’s character, that doesn’t seem to be a stretch.
Whether there’s a specific angel assigned to each of us or countless angels are ready to help, one pastor put it this way: “As we realize... that [angels] are watching us, ready to walk with us as we walk with Him in His ways, ready to serve us as we serve Him, ready to shield us and help us in a hundred different ways, a solemn feeling will come into our lives. Surely, we will walk softly in the presence of the Lord and His holy angels... Thus this truth will assist us in a holy life.”
YOUR RESPONSE
- What’s your conclusion? Do you think that these biblical references are sufficient to suggest that we do have individual angels who are assigned to help us? Why or why not?
- Whether you conclude that you do have an individual angel assigned to watch over you, or just understand that there are angels available to help you as God sees fit, what are the emotions you feel as a result – and why?
- The Bible warns against worshiping angels, and praying to them might very well create a slippery slope toward that. But it’s certainly okay to pray to God about angels that can protect and help you. Take a few moments to write down what you would ask God to do through the angelic beings around you.
Excerpted from Angels and You, a 5-Day devotional written by Lee Strobel for Devotionals Daily featuring content from his new book Seeing the Supernatural.
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Your Turn
What do you think? Have you concluded that God has assigned a personal angel to you for protection and help? Or do you think God sends us His angels for specific times of need? ~ Devotionals Daily
