Can Men Command Angels?
We all know that angels are to minister to us, but can we give them instructions directly or do we give them instruction through the name of Jesus?
Though angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
See All...), I know of no Bible instances where humans were able to give them instructions either directly or through the name of Jesus. On the contrary, we have no control over the work of the angels. We know that they are above us since Jesus had to make Himself lower than the angels in order to come down and be born and suffer as a man (Hebrews 2:7-9 [7] Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
[8] Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
[9] But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
See All...). Hebrews also speaks of those who had entertained angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
See All...). That is, men were not aware of their presence--even when they are visible as men.
Even in the Old Testament, where we see angels actively working with men, they are not at the bidding of men. The angel refused to reveal to Manoah, the father of Samson, his name. Though the angels who came to deliver Lot cooperated with Abraham and Lot, they certainly did not accept orders from them. When Lot failed to leave Sodom in a timely manner, the two angels forcibly took Lot and his immediate family out of town (Genesis 19:15-16 [15] And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
[16] And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
See All...).
The biblical way for the commanding of angels is found in several places. It is this: the people of God pray; the Lord hears their prayer; the Lord sends His angel or angels to do a work. Believers on earth do not have control over the angels. That is a myth made up by those who want to claim some great power over the spirit world that they do not have. Here are some examples:
- Moses spoke of when the children of Israel "cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt" (Numbers 20:16And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
See All...). - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's image not knowing what God would do (Daniel 3:17-18 [17] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
[18] But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
See All...). But God in His mercy "sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God" (Daniel 3:28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
See All...). The Hebrew children did not order up the angel of the Lord, God did it. - God "sent his angel" to deliver Daniel from the mouths of the lions in the den of lions (Daniel 6:22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
See All...). - The church in Jerusalem prayed for Peter when he was in prison (Acts 12:5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
See All...). But when Peter was delivered, he testified that "the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews" (Acts 12:11And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
See All...). The Christians praying for Peter were so surprised when he showed up at the door that they almost did not let him in. Certainly, they did not command any angel to go get him.
All these passages and others show that men do not command angels and angels do not obey the commandments of men. They are God's "holy angels" (Matthew 25:31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
See All...; Revelation 14:10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
See All...). Men are sinful by nature and have dwelling in their flesh no good thing. How could men have the right or the authority to command these holy ministers of God Almighty? Certainly, we cannot.