In every play, every production, there is an unseen stage crew working behind the scenes. The same appears to be true of creation. At some point angels were created. Genesis 1:3 through Genesis 2:3 describes the first 7 days of creation. But there were created things that appear to have been created between verse 1 and verse 3 – important things. While God chose not to layout every detail, he dropped breadcrumbs.
Following are some examples:
- “God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath and life to everyone in all the world.” Isaiah 42:5.
- “The Lord, your Redeemer and Creator says: I am the Lord who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. By myself I made the earth and everything in it. When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Be dry!’ they will be dry.” Isaiah 44:24,27.
- “I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness.” Isaiah 45:7.
- “I alone am God, the First and the Last. It was my hand that laid the foundation of the earth, and the palm of my right hand spread out the heavens above. I spoke and they came into being.” Isaiah 48:13.
- “God stretched out the north over the empty place and hung the earth on nothing.” Job 26:7
- “For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos.” Isaiah 45:18.
- “You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.” Nehemiah 9:6
- “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3.
- “Ah, Lord God! Behold you have made the heaven and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for you.” Jeremiah 21: 17.
- “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man, that you are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you visit him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels and have crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:3-6
GOOD ANGELS
The good angels are referred to as God’s angels.
Sometimes they are identified.
“And the angel, answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and am sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.” Luke 1:19
Sometimes they are not.
“Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrifying to look at; but I did not ask him from where he was, neither did he tell me his name.” Judges 13:6
Sometimes they explain a situation, such as when Daniel didn’t understand why his prayer wasn’t answered for 3 weeks.
“Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you. Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for 21 days, the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way… Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me.”
Daniel 10:11-13
“You, you alone, are the Lord. You made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are in it, the seas, and all that is in them, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.” Nehemiah 9:6
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man, that you are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you visit him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels and have crowned him with glory and honor.”
Psalm 8:3-6
SATAN
Lucifer: Apparently, all angels, like Adam and Eve, were perfect when they were created. But one in particular, named Lucifer, got significant mention.
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who weakened the nations. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.”
Isaiah 14:12-15
“You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone— red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian, you had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings. You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire out from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All who knew you are appalled at your fate.” Ezekiel 28:13-19
God said, “Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire and brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.”
Isaiah 54:16
EVIL ANGELS (DEMONS)
Not only did Lucifer get banished and demoted, but it would appear many angels followed Lucifer to his new assignment; we know them as demons.
- “The angels who did not keep their first estate, but left their own habitation, God has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Jude 6
- “For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4
- God said, “Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire and brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.” Isaiah 54:16
STAGE CREW INTERACTIONS
The entire Old Testament Book of Job is a conversation between God and Satan, God and/or Job and/or Job’s three friends. It would appear God included these conversations (42 chapters) because he needs us to understand how evil interacts in the lives of people.
- “One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan the Accuser came with them. Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. And Satan answered the Lord, “I have been going back and forth across the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” The Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil.” Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Job 1:6-11
- “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.’ So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.” Job 1:12
God allowed Satan to test Job, but Job proved faithful to God through it all, even though Satan destroyed his servants, his oxen, his sheep, his camels, his sons and daughters, and gave Job a very bad case of boils. All the while Job’s friends accused Job of some sort of sin against God for which he should repent. Even his wife told him to just ‘curse God and die.’ Job 2:9. God set them straight and rewarded Job with twice as much as he had before.
The Book of Job highlights amazing conversations. God is a faithful Father to those who trust his Word. And, yes, he had to raise his voice a time or two and put Job’s friends in their place, but at the end of the day, God alone sits on the throne.
- “I am YHVH (the Lord): that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, neither my praise to carved images.” Isaiah 42:8
One look at the future and it’s clear we need a God who is able to take care of us. The reality is that we have a God who is able to take care of us. We need to invest time to get to know him, understand who he is, how much he loves us, and the hard truth of his ridiculously simple family plan. Choose God.
- “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.” Exodus 23:20
Next Up: Genesis Prior to Day One