“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will come a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered. Daniel 12:1-3
If you’re not too familiar with the entire Bible, especially the Old Testament, you might think that these verses come from the Revelation of St. John. That’s where we usually expect prophecies about the last days. The visions in Revelation were given to encourage the early Christian believers as they were being persecuted. But God’s people suffered in many other times too, and God pointed them to the future, and to his righteous judgment. He would make things right in the end.
Do you remember where Daniel was when he received this revelation? Along with his entire nation, he was an exile in Babylon. He had experienced being taken from his home and marched 900 miles. He had already faced a den of lions. How could God say that the angel Michael “protects your people”!?
God does allow us to go through some bad times – but is he protecting us from much worse things that we are unaware of? Yes – God cares more about our eternal destiny than our earthly comfort.
Why would he allow his special people to go through such terrible things? They were already on a much worse journey. They were traveling down a road away from him and toward slavery to false gods. This was a captivity from which they would never be able to return. So God used the captivity of Israel to bring many of his people back to faith in him.
How does God desire to use these challenging times in your life? From what is his angel protecting you? When you are in danger, his angel will arise for you as well.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your angels surround me. Grant that I may see the victory which you have not only promised, but which you have already given to me. Amen