The Highway Angel Encounter

I think I have interacted with an Angel. Whether it was a human angel or a heavenly one, I am not that sure, but there was something unique about that encounter.

It was during a late-night drive on a highway. I was on a time- and life-sensitive assignment. Submerged in the inspirational music coming out of the car player, I was flowing in the joy of the Lord, not worried about the thick darkness around me on a lonely two-way highway that cuts through farmland and moderate forest. I was just one of the few cars on the road at that hour of the night. That night was so dark that you could barely see anything except the car headlight guiding the driving. Suddenly, I heard a loud confusing sound which took me a while to decipher its source. This consistent sound was now coupled with the shaking of the car. It was then I realized that the sound was from my car. I had no choice but to look for a safe place to park on that dark and deserted highway.

I came down from the car and discovered that I just had a flat tire. How could this have happened? My husband just replaced all the four tires on it with a set of brand new. For some minutes, I had no idea what to do. Then I remembered the spare tire and that people change tires: this I had never done before. Secondly, I had no idea how to get the extra tire out of the car because of the way it was stylishly hooked up to the car, and that was one of the things I loved about the car then. Thirdly, I have been driving the car for years, and I never had reason to look for where the flat tire accessories were kept in the car. So, I was unsure where to look for the accessories.

I was simply stuck that night, all alone by myself. On both sides of the road were trees and bushes. The nearest residential area to that location was several kilometers away. Then I thought of seeking help, but who would stop in that area at that time of the night? Well, I had no choice but to step aside from the car and wave down all the passing cars.  Of course, no one was stopping. I could understand their reason not to. The car broke down in a very suspicious place where there was no light or building – a sketchy little forest area. To perfect the miracle, my dark skin blended well with the night and the color of the car wasn’t that helpful either. Before anybody could see me or notice the car, they would have driven some meters away.

After I had tried several times with no help in sight, I decided to risk the car’s rim; thank God it got an alloy rim. So, I went back in the car and started driving so slowly beside the road. I knew there was a little town some kilometers away. As I crawled on the rim, I suddenly noticed a vehicle driving at my back slowing, for a second, I was glad thinking it was a police car. What I didn’t realize was that it got no police flashing light. I parked and stayed inside the car as expected. Then, I noticed a huge guy come down from the vehicle and started walking toward me. He came to the car window and asked me if I needed help. That was when I noticed he wasn’t a cop. I had no concern or fear about this total stranger approaching me and asking if I needed help but I was just at peace with him. I said yes, I needed help. I told him I had a flat tire and had no idea how to change it. He said to me, I can help you. So, I stepped out of the car and he started checking the car.

Do you have the key to the car tire? said the man. I went blank for some seconds wondering about the “key to the tire”. Then I remembered my husband giving me a bunch of bolts in a pack as he told me those were the keys to the tires. I didn’t take him that seriously then but put the bag where he asked me to put them. The memory came back to me immediately and I got the keys out for the man. This stranger opened the car boot and got all the accessories out. He looked at them and said to me, I got better tools in my truck, I will be right back. I watched him go to his vehicle which looked like a 4×4 red/orange truck, the visibility was greatly low. He came back with a massive piece of equipment that I had never seen before.

Right away he got into changing the tire while I stood by the road using my phone light to flash off the vehicles on the move. The man who was not talking much seemed worried about the spare tire when he saw it. It has been laid in the car for years and has not been used before. All the same, he finished up with the change that seemed super easy for him. The car got raised like a feather and he could maneuver around it easily. He then asked me to get in the car and start driving. He said to me to drive slowly because of the uncertainty around the spare tire. I thanked him so much and asked if I could get his number. I just wanted my husband to reach out to him when he returns from his trip, but the man said I should not worry about it. So, I got into the car and started driving so slowly, focusing on where I was going. I drove several kilometers, passed through a town, and drove some kilometers from there into another junction where I turned to another city, then for the first time, I noticed a vehicle driving behind me slowly and maintaining the same speed that I was on. I was expecting the vehicle to overtake me and go its way but no. Because it was so dark, I couldn’t see the vehicle very well. The vehicle kept driving behind me until I turned into my destination entrance, then it zoomed off. That was when I noticed the same truck that stopped to help me change my tire and get back on the road. That stranger did not only help me change the tire but ensured my safe arrival at my destination.

While I was stuck on the road, there was no network to pass the message across to people waiting for me. I thought of calling a family friend, but then I realized they would be in bed by that time; besides, I was far away from home. Not even AMA would come to get me in that place, and at that time. But then, this highway Angel showed up from nowhere, not only to help but to ensure my safety. Every time I remember this encounter, tears rush into my eyes. Could this man have been a God-sent Angel or a Human Angel? So many thoughts in my head to justify that it was a human Angel, but things were not just adding up.

How did he get to my back unnoticed? Because it was dark and quiet, every passing vehicle was obvious from afar as I was conscious of safety. I had driven past the location I was waving all cars down. It was on the highway and the speed limit was 100km/hour so, he wouldn’t have just stopped abruptly and started following me slowly. Had he seen me before and decided to turn back and help me? Then he would have turned back to continue his trip. Even when he drove after me for several kilometers and eventually saw me reach a safe place, he zoomed on straight into the direction of another town entirely instead of turning back. He quietly followed me afar off maintaining my 40/50km/hr on a 100km/hr road. He was not talking much but giving direct instructions and won’t share his contact.

One thing I am certain of is that God cares for His own and is ever faithful to His promises. I also know that: “the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; Psalm 33:18

There is an established covenant between God and those who have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior. And since God is a covenant-keeping God, such people got nothing to worry about. The words of the Lord say:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

– Deuteronomy 31:8

The Psalmist said in Psalm 23:1: “…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…”

– Psalm 23:1

What does the Bible say about the possibility of encountering Angels?

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

– Hebrews 13:2

Those who have God got nothing to worry about. We just need to trust Him and His wisdom. The awesome part is that even when our faith gets smaller than that of a mustard seed, God helps our unbelief in His mercy.

Having a relationship with God is no evil thing, but the best thing that could ever happen to a man. God is not evil but good. We can always trust Him with every aspect of our life.

A songwriter wrote:

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

– Psalms 34:8