Contemplative Bible Reading

Daniel 10:4-7 (New Living Translation)

4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide.

The first few verses here set the stage for what I want to note in verse 7.

1. Daniel saw a vision
2. The other men did not see the vision
3. Nevertheless, the other men were terrified

Consider items 1. and 2. Daniel saw what I believe was an angel. It was a terrifying and wonderful sight. A face like lightening and a body on fire. And Daniel heard the roaring voice of the angel. The other men didn’t see or hear anything.

Don’t discount what other people claim to see and hear, even if we are standing right next to one another.

Now to item 3. The other men were so scared they ran away and hid. What frightened them? Did they somehow sense something that they couldn’t understand and couldn’t explain? Can angels affect persons in ways that we can’t understand?

I think the answer to the last question is, “Yes.” How does this happen? As the question states, we can’t understand it. God and His angels are beyond us. I hate that; I love that.