Page 342 - Foundations

When Elijah fled from the threats of Jezebel and lay down in the wilderness weary and despondent,
the angel of Yahweh came to him, touched the prophet, and provided him with food to strengthen him
for his journey.

I Kings 19:5-8
And he lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he
said to him, “Arise, eat.” Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot
stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of Yahweh came
again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.”

We observe again that the angels are able to touch, hear, speak, and to interact with mankind while
appearing in physical bodies. In Acts chapter 12 we read of an angel appearing to Peter in prison. The
angel struck Peter on the side, awakening him and rousing him up. He then told Peter to follow him
as he led Peter right out of the prison and past the guards on duty. In Mark chapter one we read of the
angels ministering to Christ after He had not eaten for forty days and had been tempted of the devil
in the wilderness. These encounters with angels reveal that they are capable of physical interaction
with mankind. They can prepare food, serve it, offer words of comfort, and converse with mankind.
In the book of Hebrews, we read a remarkable comment regarding the people of God interacting with
angels.

Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without
knowing it.

What is included in the idea of entertaining angels? Certainly it would include sharing food with
them, offering them a place to stay, possibly washing their feet. There may have been a handshake
of greeting, or even the exchange of a holy kiss. There would certainly be occasions of conversation.
A myriad of reputable examples of Christians encountering angels could be cited, including
experiences of my own, but I will limit myself to Biblical examples.

Rather than portraying angels as bodiless, sexless, purely spiritual beings, the Bible reveals that the
angels move about with equal ease among both the spiritual and physical realms. Why should this
seem strange to any believer? The angels were created to abide with Yahweh in heaven, yet they were
also created to serve as ministering spirits to mankind. It is error to judge angels by our own present
constraints. Nor should we think that what mankind currently experiences will be his portion in the
ages to come. Man at present is limited to experiencing life through a physical body. We cannot put
off this body at will, or take on an ethereal body to enter into the heavens. Yet the day will come when
the people of God will be able to do both.

A remarkable prophetic passage alludes to this ability of the overcoming sons of God in coming days.
This passage is found in the book of Ezekiel. On one level, this word recorded by the prophet is
forecasting an upcoming day when the righteous sons of God will, like the holy angels, experience
what it is like to enter into the presence of Yahweh in glorified, holy bodies while also being able to
put on other bodily forms that they might go out from the presence of God to mingle among the
masses of humanity who have not yet been glorified.