Many times God's messengers of mercy - angels - show up at our greatest point of need. Yet it is obvious that angels don't always intervene. There are times when they are desperately needed, but they don't assist.

For example, the people of Israel were taken into captivity many times in their history, whether by the Babylonians or Egyptians or others, and often there was no angelic rescue team to come to their aid. In other instances, however, God did intervene; mercy was extended or deliverance came at a crucial moment.

What made the difference? As I studied the various angelic visitations in the Bible with this question in mind, I noticed a pattern. I found there was a lifestyle - an attitude or an approach to living - that was common among individuals who received angelic help. In short, I noticed they met certain qualifications.

This is an encouraging discovery. It tells us there is a way we, too, can live - an attitude and an approach to life we can embrace - that will enable God to dispatch angelic messengers of mercy for us just as He did for people in the Bible.

When you are in the middle of a hard season or when you have blown it, there is an answer. If you live a certain way and do certain things, the ministry of angels can be brought to bear in your life to help you when you need it most.

I'm not suggesting there is some kind of magic formula that releases the power of angels. I'm simply pointing you toward a lifestyle that is clearly identified in the Word of God, a lifestyle that puts you in a position to operate in true spiritual power. You see, the way you live your life will have a direct impact on your ability to avail yourself of God's delivering power on a daily basis.

When Only God Can Help
In Isaiah 36 and 37 you will find the example of a man who clearly met those qualifications. It is an amazing story. It is the story of how Judah's king, Hezekiah, overcame the evil Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and the Assyrian army. It is also an example of the power of God's angels.

Isaiah 36 begins during the 14th year of King Hezekiah's reign. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had come up against the cities of Judah and conquered them. He then set his sights on Jerusalem with plans to take it by siege. Sennacherib sent Rabshakeh to Jerusalem to meet with King Hezekiah. (Rabshakeh, as used here, isn't a man's name. It is a military term that refers to an office of state much like that of a modern-day Secretary of State. It literally means the king's representative charged with negotiating truces and surrenders.)

Sennacherib assumed that because of the destructive force of his great army, Hezekiah would surely surrender Jerusalem to him without a struggle. Therefore, Rabshakeh was sent to deliver the terms of surrender to Hezekiah. As Rabshakeh met with Hezekiah's representatives, he spoke so that all of the people of Jerusalem could hear. He warned them not to be persuaded by Hezekiah to trust in the Lord for deliverance. He reminded the people that the Assyrian army had just defeated the forces in Judah and that, frankly, nothing could stand in the way of King Sennacherib.

In order to get the full picture, let's back up a little and look at what had happened just prior to Rabshakeh's visit. Historically, this event took place in 701 B.C., and Assyria was the dominant power of that time. Assyrians had embarked on a two-year campaign to conquer the rest of the civilized world, and the primary obstacle standing in their way was Egypt. But in order to conquer Egypt, Assyria had to march south through Israel.

Hezekiah had learned of the Assyrians' plans well in advance of their attack on the cities of Judah. He realized he didn't have the military strength to face the Assyrian army alone. So in an attempt to save his kingdom, Hezekiah had made an alliance with Egypt in direct disobedience to repeated instructions from the Lord.

Egypt was eager to make this alliance because if Judah turned the Assyrians back, the Egyptians would never have to fight them on their own soil. Thus, a pact was made. Egypt supplied Hezekiah with paid mercenaries to bolster his forces, and it was these combined forces that the Assyrian army had defeated at Lachish, one of the cities in Judah. In fact, this is the city from which Rabshakeh had come when he ordered the surrender of Jerusalem in Isaiah 36:2.

As he called for the surrender, he reminded the people of Israel that no alliance or nation had been able to stand up against the great Assyrian army (Isaiah 36:5-7). As Hezekiah listened to Rabshakeh's message, he realized he could no longer depend on natural, military might. His alliance with Egypt had failed him. Disaster was at the door, and only God could help him now.

What did Hezekiah do to secure that divine help? Isaiah 37:1 tells us: "And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord." In other words, Hezekiah repented of his sin. What sin? The sin he had committed when he made the alliance with Egypt. For generations, it had been a standing order of the Lord not to enter into a covenant or an agreement with Egypt.

The second thing Hezekiah did was turn to the word of the Lord. According to Isaiah 37:2, he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. Hezekiah sought the word of the Lord as represented at that time by the prophet Isaiah.

The third thing Hezekiah did was pray. Look at what Isaiah 37:14 says, "And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Earnestly, Hezekiah made his case before God in prayer saying: 'Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear; open thine eyes, O Lord, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.... Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only'" (Isa. 37:17,20).

It is important to understand that Hezekiah couldn't have prayed that prayer if he hadn't first repented. Prayer isn't going to work if you are still walking on the wrong path and your heart is wrong. You first have to change and get in line with God. And that is exactly what Hezekiah did.

Do you know what happened in that situation? The Lord sent an angel to help Hezekiah. Verse 36 says, "The angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." Hezekiah woke up the following morning and found out his enemies were all dead! God had sent His angel, who slew 185,000 soldiers of the most powerful army on the earth at that time - and he did it in one night. That is the way to fight a battle!

Thank heavens that Hezekiah qualified for that kind of assistance! He lived in such a way that he allowed God to send an angel on his behalf, even when he had blown it. Hezekiah was quick to repent. He sought out the Word of the Lord. And most importantly, he prayed.

That is the lesson for us today. We need to recognize those times when we fail or aren't in faith, and then we need to repent. Of course, true repentance calls for a change of direction. Once you have repented, get in the Word. Study and meditate on God's promises. See what He says about your condition or circumstance. Finally, pray! Prayer is hard work, but don't give up. Press in and seek the Lord's face with an attitude of humility. Remember, this is a process, and this process is a way of living. It is an attitude we have and a lifestyle we embrace.

When we are quick to repent and determined to change our course, when we consistently spend time in God's Word and in prayer - then we are candidates for the ministry of angels. We open the way for God to send them to intervene on our behalf.

Source: Angels At Your Service by Mac Hammond.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers