Article October 20, 1928 Issue

Gabriel and Michael

MYRTLE TIMMONS SUTHERLAND

The children of Israel had crossed the Jordan. Joshua had succeeded Moses. Manna had ceased to fall, and they ate of the corn of Canaan. Jericho rose before them to be captured. Beyond lay hostile tribes to be encountered. In the wilderness they had experienced the hardships of wandering; here there was to be yet more active fighting—the promised land the battle ground. Years before, Joshua and Caleb had been sent to spy out this land. They had returned and asserted that it could be taken. They were now to prove what they had then believed. We read that Joshua "lifted up his eyes"—lifted up his thought for heavenly encouragement. He beheld a man "with his sword drawn in his hand," who announced that he was the "captain of the host of the Lord." He assured Joshua that he was standing upon holy ground; that it was a spiritual basis from which his enemies must be encountered, and that the resources of heaven were at his command.

Who was this captain of the angelic host? Where is he to-day? Under the marginal heading, "Angelic offices," Mrs. Eddy writes on pages 566 and 567 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "The Old Testament assigns to the angels, God's divine messages, different offices. Michael's characteristic is spiritual strength. He leads the hosts of heaven against the power of sin, Satan, and fights the holy wars. Gabriel has the more quiet task of imparting a sense of the ever-presence of ministering Love. These angels deliver us from the depths. Truth and Love come nearer in the hour of woe, when strong faith or spiritual strength wrestles and prevails through the understanding of God. The Gabriel of His presence has no contests. To infinite, ever-present Love, all is Love, and there is no error, no sin, sickness, nor death." The Hebrew names of these two angels symbolize their respective offices. Michael means "Who is like God?"—indicative of a process of discrimination, of separating evil from good. Gabriel means, simply, "man of God"—an affirmation of the manifestation of God.

In the book of Jude there is a short reference to an activity of Michael in connection with Moses, setting forth that in a struggle with the devil over the body of Moses, Michael "durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." It must always be the realization of the presence and omnipotence of God which rebukes and destroys evil and death.

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