God in His wisdom hiving resolved to create man, He asked counsel of
all around Him before He proceeded to execute His purpose—an example to
man, be he never so great and distinguished, not to scorn the advice of
the humble and lowly. First God called upon heaven and earth, then upon
all other things He had created, and last upon the angels.
The angels were not all of one opinion. The Angel of Love favored the
creation of man, because he would be affectionate and loving; but the
Angel of Truth opposed it, because he would be full of lies. And while
the Angel of Justice favored it, because he would practice justice, the
Angel of Peace opposed it, because he would be quarrelsome.
To invalidate his protest, God cast the Angel of Truth down from heaven
to earth, and when the others cried out against such contemptuous
treatment of their companion, He said, "Truth will spring back out of
the earth."
The objections of the angels would have been much stronger, had they
known the whole truth about man. God had told them only about the
pious, and had concealed from them that there would be reprobates among
mankind, too. And yet, though they knew but half the truth, the angels
were nevertheless prompted to cry out: "What is man, that Thou art
mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" God
replied: "The fowl of the air and the fish of the sea, what were they
created for? Of what avail a larder full of appetizing dainties, and no
guest to enjoy them?" And the angels could not but exclaim: "O Lord,
our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Do as is pleasing
in Thy sight."[12]
For not a few of the angels their opposition bore fatal consequences.
When God summoned the band under the archangel Michael, and asked their
opinion on the creation of man, they answered scornfully: "What is man,
that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest
him?" God thereupon stretched forth His little finger, and all were
consumed by fire except their chief Michael. And the same fate befell
the band under the leadership of the archangel Gabriel; he alone of all
was saved from destruction.
The third band consulted was commanded by the archangel Labbiel. Taught
by the horrible fate of his predecessors, he warned his troop: "You
have seen what misfortune overtook the angels who said 'What is man,
that Thou art mindful of him?' Let us have a care not to do likewise,
lest we suffer the same dire punishment. For God will not refrain from
doing in the end what He has planned. Therefore it is advisable for us
to yield to His wishes." Thus warned, the angels spoke: "Lord of the
world, it is well that Thou hast thought of creating man. Do Thou
create him according to Thy will. And as for us, we will be his
attendants and his ministers, and reveal unto him all our secrets."
Thereupon God changed Labbiel's name to Raphael, the Rescuer, because
his host of angels had been rescued by his sage advice. He was
appointed the Angel of Healing, who has in his safe-keeping all the
celestial remedies, the types of the medical remedies used on
earth.[12]