Growing up in the 50s & 60s, it seems everything was slapstick comedy. Among them, slapping each other left and right, were Abbott and Costello, and The Three Stooges. We laughed at it. We even had parents say, “I’m gonna slap you silly.” We thought it was normal. Even some TV commercials told us it was the slap-happiest time ever.
Many movies featured a woman slap a guy and say stuff like, “How dare you!” And, “Why, you two-timing, good-for-nuttin’ beast!” followed by a slap.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus, King Herod killed James, John’s brother. He planned on killing Peter too, but first placed him in jail surrounded by 16 guards. I can just picture him saying, “Let’s see you get out of this one!”
Check out the story:
“The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrist. Then the angel said to Peter, put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. “Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him” (Acts 12:5-10).
Here was an amazing rescue by an angel of God! He led Peter out of the jail by first slapping him awake! As you can imagine, the soldiers searched high and low for Peter, who managed to escape 16 men while half asleep! I’m sure Herod thought, “Why did I have to challenge him?” Read it to see that it was such an embarrassment, all the guards were put to death.
God’s powerful angels will do what it takes to minister to His people. No, they’re not little chubby kids as angels, and no, they’re not sexy girls in lingerie as men often wish them to be. They’re God’s mighty warriors and messengers-usually, scary, or intimidating to look at.
Have you been visited by an angel? I’m sure you have, but you’ve probably chased them away many times. Most of us have unknowingly. How?
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14)? Every time you turn away those “religious nuts,” you’re turning away angels sent to rescue and save you. Turning away from God, now, that’s a slap in the face.
God Bless,
Sam