One of the most popular angel stories of this century
happened in a gruesome Nazi prison camp in the Second
World War, as told by Corrie Ten Boom, in “A
Prisoner—And Yet.” She and her sister Betsie had just
arrived at Ravensbruck, where new prisoners were being
searched. Corrie was hiding a Bible under her dress.

It did bulge out obviously through my dress; but I
prayed, “Lord, cause now thine angels to surround me;
and let them not be transparent today, for the guards
must not see me.” I felt perfectly at ease. Calmly I
passed the guards. Everyone was checked, from the
front, the sides, the back. Not a bulge escaped the
eyes of the guard. The woman just in front of me had
hidden a woolen vest under her dress; it was taken
from her. They let me pass, for they did not see me.
Betsie, right behind me, was searched.

But outside awaited another danger. On each side of
the door were women who looked everyone over for a
second time. They felt all over the body of each one
who passed. I knew they would not search me, for the
angels were still surrounding me. I was not even
surprised when they passed me by; but within me rose
the jubilant cry, “O Lord, if Thou dost so answer
prayer, I can face even Ravensbruck unafraid.

Maybe we don/t need all the sensations and excitement
that so many people clamor for. Wonderful as the
presence of an angel might be, God has given us
something better. In fact He has given us the
greatest gift of all. His presence through the Holy
Spirit and His Word. I don’t have a fixation on
angels, but I’m more convinced than ever that they are
far more involved in our world than most of us
realize. I believe they certainly do intervene here,
both visibly and invisibly.

As F. C. Dickason reminds us in his handbook—Angels:
Elect and Evil.

Though angelology is not a cardinal doctrine, its
acceptance opens the mind to a better understanding of
the Bible, God’s plan of the ages, the Christian life
and ministry, as well as world conditions and the
course of world affairs.

Once we honestly investigate the amazing things
Scripture tells us about them, we actually find
ourselves drawn closer to God, instead of being
distracted and turned away from Him. Anyone who goes
into a study of angels with a high view of God will
come away with an even higher view. If you build up
only a file of information about angels, but haven’t
encountered at least a tug toward humble submission to
the Almighty God…you’ve totally missed what angels are
all about.

By Erwin Bourne