Need Help w/ Tobit

[Chris_LaRock]

I’m reading the book of Tobit and ran into a slight problem.

As you may remember, Tobias is sent to Rages in Media to get some money his Father Tobit left there several years earlier. An angel names Raphael accompanies him there.

The problem;

If nobody realized Raphael was an angel until the very end of the story, (Tob 5:4 Therefore when he went to seek a man, he found Raphael that was an angel.
Tob 5:5 But he knew not; and he said unto him, Canst thou go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places well?)
why does tobit make the following statements? -

Tob 5:16 So they were well pleased. Then said he to Tobias, Prepare thyself for the journey, and God send you a good journey. And when his son had prepared all things far the journey, his father said, Go thou with this man, and God, which dwelleth in heaven, prosper your journey, and the angel of God keep you company. So they went forth both, and the young man’s dog with them.

Tob 5:21 For the good angel will keep him company, and his journey shall be prosperous, and he shall return safe.

 

[Nita]

The angel of God would be a third party - that is, Tobit is asking the angel of God to accompany Tobias and the “young man” (who is in fact the angel Raphael).

Nita

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

another way of saying it, is “don’t drive too fast so your guardian angel can keep up”.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

another way of saying it, is “don’t drive too fast so your guardian angel can keep up”.

So, he really didn’t know Raphael was an angel?

It seemed like a contridiction, but it makes sense now.