Language Lab: What Are “angels”?

Language Lab: What Are “Angels”?

Bible Blast: Read Luke 1:26-33

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Hebrews 13:2

Angels are everywhere these days. Images of “angels” appear on plates, blankets, cups, shirts, bags, ornaments, and jewelry. Most of the time, the pictures people draw of angels show one of two things. Either the angel looks like a tall, long-haired person in a white robe with large wings, or the angel is represented by a tiny baby with little fluttery wings wearing a cloth diaper of some sort.

Let’s look at what the Bible says about angels.

In the Bible the word for angel means “messengers.” They are sent to give messages to people. In the Bible Blast today you read about one of the greatest messages an angel ever gave when he announced the birth of Jesus to Mary. All through the Bible you’ll find stories of angels delivering messages to people from God.

The big question is, do angels really have wings?

The answer is that some definitely do. The two types of spiritual beings that are described as having wings are cherubim and seraphim. When God told Moses how he wanted the Ark of the Covenant built, he said to have two cherubim on it with their wings spread over it for protection (Exodus 25:20). In Isaiah 6, seraphim are described as having six wings each. Now, do God’s other angels have wings? There’s nothing saying that they specifically do, but they could.

There are so many wonderful stories about angels in the Bible. We could spend weeks just going through those verses and learning all sorts of cool things about angels. But the main thing I want you to learn today is this: Angels are definitely real, but you are not supposed to worship them. In Revelation 22, John bowed down to worship at an angel’s feet, and do you know what the angel said to him? “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you. . . . Worship only God!”

Pictures of angels are pretty, but don’t be tempted to worship them. Like the angel said to John, worship only God.

Girl Gab: Talk to your mom about today’s devo. How does it make you feel when you think about angels? Thank God that he has angels to help us.