Nougat 28

American gospel artist Nicole Mullen sings about ‘borrowed angels’. The song lyrics suggest that some people are blessed, not because they are believers, but they are under the mantle of another’s prayers. In today’s Holy Nougat, we get insights on the evangelistic potential of the premise.

“He said to me, ‘The LORD, whom I’ve traveled with everywhere, will send his messenger with you and make your trip successful; and you will choose a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s household. I bowed and worshipped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me in the right direction to choose the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭40‬, ‭48‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Someone else’s God

Long before Ruth made her vow to Naomi, the lives of believers in the Triune God (El Elohim) was impacting others. At the onset, Abraham’s servant seems to have a different god or a different perspective as inferred from the conversation with Laban. Nevertheless, the servant accepted Abraham’s promise that God’s messenger would accompany and protect him on his journey.

Although this was a mark of service, the servant’s tacit acceptance seems to reflect Ruth’s – ‘your God will be my God…’ (see Ruth 1). He not only set out for Laban’s home in distant lands, but when nearing the end of his journey, the servant prayed to Abraham’s God (see verses 12-13 and 42). This is the term he used, suggesting that he didn’t necessarily see himself as one of God’s elect. Yet it is evident that his prayer was answered, whether because Abraham was the intermediary or simply because the servant prayed earnestly.

What we do know is that the answered prayer triggered an outburst of praise and the multiple references to God from the servant (see verses 26, 34, 40, 44, 48, 52, and 56). The recounting of his experience was literally punctuated with his references to God. I am convinced that regardless of his level of faith at the start of the journey, he had come into his own acceptance of the lordship of El Elohim. Thus, what might have begun as Abraham’s story became the experience of his servant.

Siblings, it is true that we can’t live on borrowed angels, granny’s or others. But even more heartening is the knowledge that our willingness to share our God with others may realize in others far greater moments of transformation. Amidst the journeys we face and the people we encounter is a life awaiting transformation from our angels. It may begin with our prayers, our assurance that God’s in control or God’s grace is sufficient, or even a direct testimony of God’s presence in our lives.

We might never know how our actions may impact another person. What we do know is that we offer the protection of the One Who owns the Secret Place and offers refuge from the storms we all face within and without. Can we commit to pray for and/or sharing our (angels) faith with others?

And while we pray, let’s remember our siblings in the Philippines under the onslaught of typhoon conditions presently.

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May all we seek be found in Christ