ANGELS UNAWARE

Hebrews 13:2 KJV

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

There are things happening around us that we cannot see.

We can see the people in this room. We can see the walls around us. We can see the sunshine through the window. But the Bible teaches us that there is also an unseen spiritual world that is just as real as the world we can see.

And part of that unseen world is angels.

Angels are not people who have died and gone to Heaven. The Bible presents angels as a distinct order of beings created by God to serve Him and carry out His purposes.

Psalm 103:20 KJV

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, That excel in strength, that do his commandments, Hearkening unto the voice of his word.

They belong to God.

They obey God.

They serve God.

And throughout the Bible, God sometimes sends angels to minister to His people.

Hebrews 1:14 KJV

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

I want to show you several occasions when Heaven sent help.

And perhaps before we're finished, we'll realize something wonderful:

Even when we cannot see what God is doing, God is still at work.

I. AN ANGEL FOUND HAGAR WHEN SHE FELT FORGOTTEN

Genesis 16:7 KJV

7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

She was hurting.

She had run away.

She was sitting beside a fountain in the wilderness, and from her perspective it may have seemed that nobody knew where she was.

But notice those beautiful words:

“The angel of the LORD found her.”

She may have felt lost.

But she wasn't lost to God.

She may have felt forgotten.

But God knew exactly where she was.

After God spoke to her, Hagar gave the Lord one of the most beautiful names found in the Old Testament.

Genesis 16:13 KJV

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

What a wonderful truth.

God sees me.

There may be times, especially as we grow older, when we wonder whether anybody remembers us.

The telephone may not ring as much as it once did.

Friends we once knew may be gone.

Family may live far away.

The world seems to keep moving while our own world becomes smaller.

But listen to me:

You have never been out of God's sight.

God knew where Hagar was in the wilderness.

God knew where Daniel was in Babylon.

God knew where Paul was in prison.

God knew where John was on Patmos.

And God knows exactly where you are today.

You may feel forgotten by the world, but you are never forgotten by God.

II. AN ANGEL STOOD WITH DANIEL WHEN HE WAS IN DANGER

Daniel had served God faithfully.

But because of the jealousy of wicked men, Daniel was thrown into a den of lions.

Imagine that night.

Daniel is surrounded by hungry lions.

King Darius couldn't sleep.

Daniel couldn't escape.

But Daniel wasn't alone.

The next morning the king hurried to the lions' den and cried:

Daniel 6:20–22 KJV

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

I love those words:

“My God hath sent his angel.”

The king couldn't get Daniel out.

The stone was sealed.

Daniel had no weapon.

There was nothing Daniel could do for himself.

But Heaven was not helpless.

God sent an angel.

And when that angel arrived, the lions suddenly lost their appetite!

💡 I can almost picture Daniel lying down that night with a lion for a pillow. The Bible doesn't say that happened, of course, but it does tell us something better: God shut their mouths.

Sometimes God doesn't keep us out of the lions' den.

Sometimes He meets us in the lions' den.

That's important.

God never promised that His children wouldn't have trouble.

But He promised that trouble would never separate us from Him.

Psalm 34:7 KJV

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

You may face some lions today.

Maybe it's loneliness.

Maybe it's uncertainty.

Maybe it's grief over somebody you miss terribly.

Maybe there are things about tomorrow that concern you.

Remember Daniel.

The God who knew where Daniel was knows where you are.

III. AN ANGEL SAT BESIDE ELIJAH WHEN HE WAS WEARY

I especially love this story.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah was exhausted.

He had been through tremendous emotional and spiritual strain.

He went into the wilderness, sat underneath a juniper tree, and finally fell asleep.

Then 1 Kings 19:5 says:

1 Kings 19:5 KJV

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

Isn't that tender?

The angel didn't come with a sermon.

He didn't rebuke Elijah.

He didn't tell him everything he had done wrong.

He simply touched him and said:

“Arise and eat.”

1 Kings 19:6 KJV

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

God knew what His tired servant needed.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing a weary person needs is simply some food and some rest.

But here's the greater truth:

God cared about Elijah when Elijah was at his weakest.

God doesn't only love you on your strongest days.

He loves you on your tired days.

He loves you when your strength isn't what it used to be.

He loves you when you need somebody else to help you.

He loves you when you can do much.

And He loves you when you can do very little.

Your value to God has never been measured by how much you can accomplish.

You are precious to Him because you belong to Him.

IV. AN ANGEL CAME TO PETER WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE NO WAY OUT

Acts 12 tells us that Peter was in prison.

He was chained between soldiers.

Guards were stationed at the doors.

Humanly speaking, Peter wasn't going anywhere.

But the church was praying.

And while the church prayed, God moved.

Acts 12:7 says:

Acts 12:7 KJV

7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

The angel woke Peter.

His chains fell off.

Doors opened.

And Peter walked out.

Then something almost humorous happened.

Peter went to the house where the church was praying for him.

He knocked on the door.

A young woman named Rhoda heard Peter's voice and became so excited that she forgot to open the door!

She ran back and told everybody:

Peter is standing outside!

And the people who had been praying for Peter didn't believe her!

They were praying for a miracle, and when the miracle knocked on the door, they couldn't believe God had answered them.

That encourages me.

Because sometimes our faith isn't very strong.

Sometimes we pray and still wonder how things will work out.

But God's ability does not depend upon the strength of our emotions.

God is still God.

V. ANGELS WERE THERE WHEN JESUS CAME—AND THEY WILL BE THERE WHEN HE RETURNS

Angels appear throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus.

An angel announced His birth.

Luke 2:10–11 KJV

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Angels ministered to Jesus after His temptation.

Angels were at the empty tomb.

And angels were present when Jesus ascended back to Heaven.

But here's what I especially want you to remember:

Angels always point us toward Jesus.

The greatest message an angel ever delivered was not:

“Look at me.”

It was:

“Look at Him.”

At Bethlehem:

Christ has come.

At the empty tomb:

Christ has risen.

At the ascension:

Christ is coming again.

And that is our hope today.

Our hope isn't in angels.

Our hope is in Jesus Christ.

Angels are servants.

Jesus is the Savior.

Angels may minister to God's people.

Jesus died for God's people.

Angels may accompany believers.

But Jesus redeemed us with His own blood.

And one day, when this earthly journey is finished, every child of God is going home.

Jesus said in John 14:2–3:

John 14:2–3 KJV

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

CONCLUSION

— THERE MAY BE MORE AROUND YOU THAN YOU REALIZE

Let me leave you with this thought.

Elisha once had a servant who looked around and saw an enemy army surrounding them.

The servant was terrified.

But Elisha knew something his servant couldn't see.

2 Kings 6:17 KJV

17 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.

They had been there all along.

The servant simply couldn't see them.

Maybe that's the message somebody needs today.

There is more happening than what you can see.

When Hagar felt forgotten—God saw her.

When Daniel was surrounded—God sent His angel.

When Elijah was exhausted—God cared for him.

When Peter was imprisoned—God opened the door.

When Elisha appeared outnumbered—Heaven already surrounded him.

And whatever you're facing today:

God sees you. God knows you. God loves you. God has not forgotten you.

And if you belong to Jesus Christ, you can rest in this promise:

You are never truly alone.

The angels are God's servants.

But Jesus is your Savior.

And the same Jesus who said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” will be faithful all the way home.

Amen.