God’s angel who was sent to protect Daniel

What Are Angels? Why Were They Created?

‘Malak’ is the original Semitic word translated in English as angel. Malak means “one who is sent”. In the translation over time to other languages, it became synonymous with a messenger….someone sent to deliver messages.

But the original word only infers ‘sent’ to perform ‘some’ task.

Is their service limited to delivering messages?

Rationally consider the following Scriptures:

Genesis 3

24 “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

The first mention of angels in the Bible is not in the service of messengers but as guards.

Exodus 12: 29-30

29 “And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.”

30 “And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.”

This angel was not a messenger but was sent as a holy executioner.

Isaiah 37:36

36 “Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand (185,000): and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.”

The angel mentioned here delivered death that night and not one message.

Daniel 6:22

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.”

An angel was dispatch to protect faithful Daniel when he had been thrown into a den of lions. He didn’t come to talk to Daniel but to save him. He wasn’t sent to deliver a message.

The task the angels fulfill in service that are revealed in the Book of Revelation are added proof that angel fulfill a variety of service in God’s behalf. To over-emphasize that the word angel means ‘messenger’ is deliberately misleading a listener into believing that that is what an angel is and that is the only reason they exist.

The next time someone tells you angels are messengers educate them.

Angel means as the term malak suggest, one who is or was sent to perform a task.

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