During the 1970’s, as my family lived as missionaries in Uganda, East Africa, we experienced God’s supernatural protection. Frequently during three years under the cruel dictatorship of Idi Amin, the Lord supernaturally protected us. The house in to which we moved in Fort Portal was 200 miles away from our nearest American neighbor, but God showed Himself to be very near. I have many great memories from those years in East Africa. Below is a picture of me, my brother Barry with glasses, and Dad standing in front of Toyota Land Rover we used for so many tasks. To the right is Dad with a warthog that would soon become good eating!
One memorable episode from those years, involved my Dad trying to establish a work with a pigmy tribe not too far from where we lived. This particular tribe stayed high on a weed similar to marijuana and had dangerous mood swings. As Dad was learning the language, he became accustomed to leaving before the tribe would become violent. Unfortunately, on one visit Dad and another missionary were unable to leave in time. The tribe demanded an exorbitant payment or else they would kill them. Dad knew he was a goner! The tribe circled around them, not letting them return to their Land Rover. At that moment, a tall very-dark-skinned man dressed in a black suit, white shirt, black tie, and black polished dress shoes stepped out of the jungle and walked over to them. The tall man spoke to Dad in cultured British English, “Sirs, what is your problem?”
Frantically, Dad described that they were about to die because they did not have money to pay. “No problem,” the man said as he turned and began speaking to tribe in a dialect Dad didn’t understand. The tall man turned back and said, “Sirs, you may now go.”
Dad raced for the Land Rover. As they jumped in and started down the trail, the tall black man turned, walked into the jungle and disappeared. Later, Dad realized the man HAD to be an angel. This was the jungle! People do not wear suits in the jungle! Even if they did, shoes would not remain polished. He spoke English and the pigmy dialect fluently. Dad would later say, “I don’t know what the pigmies saw, but it obviously wasn’t the same thing I saw! If so, they would have killed him along with us. I am just thankful that my black angel was with us on that day.”
Many years after this incident, Dad maintained an uncommon degree of courage, even in the face of arduous challenges. Sporadically Dad would testify, “Don’t mess with me. My black angel is right here with me!”
Angels still guard today. We can walk and live in peace knowing that God has His angels watching us. Angels, as God’s servants, guard and deliver. The Lord surrounds us with His security force. Scripture reveals God’s care 100% of the time. Protective angels have been charged with our personal care. Are we assigned a personal guardian angel? I believe so!
When Peter was miraculously released from Herod’s jail and stood knocking at Mary’s door, the disciples praying inside did not believe that Peter was knocking – “It must be his angel.” (Acts 12:15 NIV) Apparently, the early disciples accepted that Peter had an angel charged to keep him. Jesus warns His listeners to “not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10 NIV) I think it’s proper to see personal guardian angels in the wording “their angels”. Oral Roberts assures, “Every child has a personal guardian angel. This means a great deal to those of us who have children and grandchildren.” (The Angels that Help Us, 1980, p. 7) My Dad accepted he had a personal angel and drew great courage from that fact.
The angelic protective covering might be more appropriately compared to a zone defense, than to a man-to-man defense. Angel-to-man or zone? Conceivably, two accounts in Acts chapter 5 and 12 suggest a prison-zone defense! Ultimately, I don’t have to know for certain. The way in which God chooses to protect us is up to Him. I’ll trust the Lord’s supervision.
Before the people of Israel entered their promised land, God promised to send His angel to prepare the way. “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I’ve prepared.” (Exodus 23:20 NIV) Two angelic responsibilities are mentioned:
- to guard and
- to bring to the place that God had prepared.
God assigns angels to do the same thing today. We have proof of God’s angelic protection in the past. The Lord sent an angel to protect Dad, to deliver Peter and Paul, to rescue Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and the Lord can do the same today. Believers’ bodyguards are on assignment.
I wonder – did God reassign Dad’s angel to me? I think he might be here in my office with me, so don’t mess with me!
