Who is Raphael in The Bible?

Did you know that Raphael is also an intercessory angel?

Yes, that’s right, Raphael is not only a humble angel sent by God to help people, but he is also an intercessory angel who intercedes with God for people. This shows how much greater Raphael’s character is and how special he is.

Role of Raphael

Raphael is a very humble, kind and helpful angel. God created him to help people. God loves humans so much that He has made some of His angels to be there all the time to help humans. Every angel is created by God for humans and for himself. The work of some angels is only to praise and glorify God. Some angels help and protect God’s servants from Satan. That is how God created Raphael and dedicated him to the service of humanity. This angel helps people when they are in difficult situations. Raphael is not mentioned in the Protestant Bible, but he is mentioned in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. There is a book called the Book of Tobit that openly describes what kind of angel Raphael is and what’s his role.

Verse

So Raphael was sent to heal both of them: Tobit by removing the white films from his eyes, so that he might see God’s light with his eyes, and Sarah, daughter of Raguel, by giving her in marriage to Tobias son of Tobit, and by setting her free from the wicked demon Asmodeus. For Tobias was entitled to have her before all others who had desired to marry her. At the same time that Tobit returned from the courtyard into his house, Sarah daughter of Raguel came down from her upper room. (Tobit 3:17)

Raphael’s Role as a Helper

A Jewish man named Tobit was a very pious and beloved servant of God. Once his eyes stopped seeing and he became blind. He had a son whose name was Tobias. Also there was a girl named Sara. A ghost was in love with this Sarah. He did not allow Sara’s marriage to succeed. When Sara got married, the Ghost always tried to kill her husband, which made Sara very upset. Tobias and Sarah wanted to get married but they were not getting married because if they did, Tobias would be killed by the ghost. So Tobias was very worried. He prayed to God to solve his problem.

Once when he was going on a journey, God sent an angel to help him, who was Raphael. Raphael gave him very important advice. He said to him that your father is blind, you should use the liver and heart of a fish, it will remove the ghost from your future wife Sarah and your father will also be able to see again. Tobias did same, he took the heart and liver of the fish and as a special act he burned them in the fire, causing the ghost who was above Sarah to flee. He used the heart and liver of the fish and also brought back his father’s sight. This suggests that God helps His servants and to help these servants He has created angels, who fulfill every command of God.

Verse

So after cutting open the fish the young man gathered together the gall, heart, and liver; then he roasted and ate some of the fish and kept some to be salted for the journey. The two continued on their way together until they were near Media. Then the young man questioned the angel and said to him, “Azariah, my brother, what medicinal value is there in the fish’s heart and liver and in the gall?” He replied, “As for the fish’s heart and liver, you must burn them to make a smoke in the presence of a man or woman afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, and every affliction will flee away and never remain with that person any longer. (Tobit 6:6-8)

Curing Tobit’s Eyes

When Raphael gave advice to Tobias, Tobias did what Raphael told him to do. The ghost that was bothering Sara was gone by this process and using the liver of the same fish, he also brought back his father’s sight. His father, who had become blind, placed fish liver on his eyes due to which God had mercy on him and restored his sight. It was a miracle that God performed through his angel Raphael.

Verse

Raphael said to Tobias before he had approached his father, “I know that his eyes will be opened. Smear the gall of the fish on his eyes; the medicine will make the white films shrink and peel off from his eyes, and your father will regain his sight and see the light.”Then Anna ran up to her son and threw her arms around her son, saying, “Now that I have seen you, my son, I am ready to die.” And she wept. Then Tobit got up and came stumbling out through the courtyard door. Tobias went up to him, with the gall of the fish in his hand, and blew it into his eyes, then took hold of him, saying, “Take courage, father.” With this he applied the medicine on his eyes, and it stung next, with both his hands he peeled off the white films from the corners of his eyes. Then Tobit threw his arms around him, and he wept and said to him, “I see you, my son, the light of my eyes!” Then he said, “Blessed be God. May his great name be upon us, and blessed be all the angels throughout all the ages. Though he afflicted me, now I see my son Tobias!” So Tobit went in rejoicing and praising God at the top of his voice. Tobias reported to his father that his journey had been successful, that he had brought the money, that he had married Raguel’s daughter Sarah, and that she was, indeed, on her way there, very near to the gate of Nineveh. (Tobit 11:7-15)

Raphael Telling a Truth

When Raphael tells Tobias how he can use the heart and liver of the fish to restore his father’s eyesight and the ghost who torture Sarah. To strengthen their faith, Raphael told them that he was not a traveling man but an angel from God. And God heard their prayers and sent him so that he could help Tobit and Sarah. Tobias and Tobit were very surprised that God heard their prayers and sent an angel to help them. They became very emotional and tried to prostrate to him to express their gratitude. Raphael said that you can only prostrate before God, He is worthy of prostrate, I am only an angel sent by Him. After that, the faith of Tobias and Tobit became very strong and they thanked God.

Verse

“I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.” (Tobit 12:15)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The story and character of Raphael teaches us that God always hears the calls and prayers of His servants and to help them He has created His special angels such as Raphael to help the good servants of God. When Raphael told Tobit and Tobias that only God has the right to worship, he also teaches us that many helpers are from God. Therefore, we should give thanks to God and should not bow down to any human or angel other than God. He is only a means sent by God to help. The character of Raphael teaches us about loyalty, humility, love, help and faith.