" . . . and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim (or "Bands"). Genesis 32:1,2
Jacob, after many trials and a long absence, was finally homeward bound to Canaan. Twenty years before, as he had passed that same way going in the opposite direction, he had seen a wondrous vision of angels ascending and descending upon a heavenly ladder, and had been given some exceedingly great and precious promises. Now as he journeys he receives a new pledge of God's protecting presence and blessing as the angels again meet him and gather in a guardian band around him. He realizes that they have been especially sent to aid and defend him in his hour of coming crisis. What a thrill it must have been to his heart to know that God was still leading and encamping round about him with His protecting angelic hosts.
Alexander McLaren makes a practical application concerning this beautiful event in the life of Jacob as follows: "It is in the path where God has bade us walk that we shall find the angels round us. We may meet them, indeed, on paths of our own choosing, but it will then be the sort of angel that Balaam met, with a sword in his hand, mighty and beautiful, but wrathful too; and we had better not oppose him! But, the friendly helpers, the emissaries of God's love, the apostles of His grace, do not haunt the roads that we make for ourselves." In God's way, however, we can expect angelic protection.
Not only do the angels do service for us in this life, as they did for Jacob (Hebrews 1:14), but they also bear our souls to Glory when our earthly sojourn here comes to an end (Luke 16:22). Christians, therefore, may well call the time of their death, "Mahanaim" - for it is then in a special way that the angels of God meet them!
"Bread For Each Day"
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