In the Bible we are told that angels of the Lord appeared to the prophets of old, who, by giving heed to these messengers of Truth and Love, were safeguarded and led aright as they wended their way Spiritward. These heavenly visitants are not confined to Bible times, but are present now. They come, to you and me just as they did to the prophets, for they are God's representatives telling us of His love. These impartations of divine Love watch over us and minister to our needs. Like the tender, loving counsel of our father or mother, they are especially near in times of stress or trouble. They come on spiritual pinions, bearing messages of purity, gratitude, hope, fearlessness, courage, faith, and divine wisdom. Mary Baker Eddy defines "angels"' on page 581 of the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality."
The forms in which angels appeared to the early prophets varied widely, yet in each instance the message which came was clearly discernible. To Lot, angels appeared in the likeness of two men who warned him to escape to the mountains. To Abraham, mesmerized by the belief that a blood sacrifice was requisite to prove his fidelity to God, an angel announced itself as a voice from heaven to stay his hand from slaying his beloved son, Isaac. To Jacob, God's presence and protection were made plain on one occasion in a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven and filled with angelic messengers; on another occasion an angel helped him in his struggle with material sense until he saw it as unreal and his nature was changed. At the Red Sea the angel, or spiritual message of God, came to the children of Israel as a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night to lead them to safety. When King Darius went in haste to the den to question Daniel about the God who had delivered him from the lions, Daniel replied (6:22), "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me."
Throughout the Old Testament there are numerous instances of angels in varying forms appearing directly to those who trusted in God and delivering them from evil. Is it any wonder that the Psalmist sang (Ps. 34:7), "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them," and that he promised (91:11), "He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways"?
