The Book of Tobit, a beautiful story nestled within the Apocrypha, touches on just that. It's a tale filled with faith, healing, and the surprising intervention of angels.
We find ourselves at a pivotal moment. Young Tobiyyah, having successfully completed his perilous journey and restored his father Tobi's sight, is ready to reward his faithful companion, Azaryah. "My brother Azaryah," he says, "come and take thy wages, half of the money which thou hast brought thence, for it is thy wages, and go in peace." A simple act of gratitude, right? But things are about to get… celestial.
Because Azaryah is not who they think he is.
He turns to Tobi and Tobiyyah, and what he says next is stunning. "Sing to the Lord a new song, and bless him, and sing praise to his name for all the goodness which he hath done unto you." Isn't it amazing how often praise is the appropriate reaction? He continues, urging them to continue in prayer, supplication, and acts of charity—tzedakah, as we call it. Because, as he points out, "it is better in the sight of the Lord to give alms always than to heap up treasures of silver and gold. For alms doth deliver from death.”
And then comes the revelation. "I will not hide from you any of the truth."
He explains that when they, Tobi and Sarah (his daughter-in-law), prayed in their despair, he, Raphael, offered their prayers before the throne of glory. As we learn from the story, Sarah was also in a desperate situation, with a demon killing her suitors. Raphael reveals that he was present during Tobi's acts of kindness, burying the dead, even at the cost of missing a feast. "And God hath tried thee by the blindness of thine eyes, for the Lord trieth the righteous." It's a reminder that trials aren't necessarily punishments, but opportunities for growth and revelation. The text implies that Tobi's righteousness was revealed through his trials.
Then comes the mic drop. "Now I am the angel Raphael, one of the princes who minister before the throne of glory.”
Can you imagine the shock? The disorientation? All this time, they've been in the company of an angel, completely unaware. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? How often are we in the presence of the divine without even realizing it?
The text tells us that upon hearing this, "they were sore afraid, and they fell on their faces." A natural reaction, wouldn't you say? To be confronted with the reality of the celestial realm is a humbling, even terrifying, experience.
The story of Raphael and Tobit reminds us that the world is more than what we see. It suggests that acts of kindness, prayer, and faith have a power that extends beyond the physical realm. That even in our darkest moments, we might be watched over, guided, and protected by forces we can't comprehend. And maybe, just maybe, that stranger who helped you carry your groceries, or offered a kind word when you were feeling down… maybe they were a little more than they seemed, too.