When Did God Create Angels?
Job 38:7: When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
One question that I get asked a lot, after my talks, is “When did God create angels?” It is a fair question. Angels are created beings, so it is fair to ask when God made them. The assumption in many people’s minds is that God must have made them before the Creation Week. However, this idea does not seem tenable. In Colossians 1:16, we read: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.” The “all things” that were created must include angels, and the strong implication is that all these things, including angels, were created during the creation week.
The problem is that Genesis 1 does not directly mention the creation of angels. However, we get some interesting information in the book of Job. In Job 38:7, we read about the “morning stars” and the “sons of God”. The phrase “morning stars” would appear to refer to angels. God begins this passage, by asking Job “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (Job 38:4). If the angels were made during the creation week, but were able to observe God making the foundation of the earth, this would suggest that God made angels early on Day One!
I am sure that if God wanted us to know the exact hour that angels were made, He would have told us. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that it is possible to make inferences about the creation week, from what passages other than Genesis 1 say.
Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, we come before You with awe and wonder. The greatest of Your creatures are just that – created by You. We give You the thanks and the glory for Your wondrous works. Amen.
Notes: Taylor, P.F. (2007), The Six Days of Genesis, (Master Books)
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