The scene of Tobias walking with the Angel Raphael has been depicted countless times. Here, Fritz von Uhde has had a go at it as well. I think this is a pastel, not a painting. But this is strange as Protestant bibles (and Fritz von Uhde was Protestant) don't include the Book of Tobit (which relates the angel story) as truly biblical. They may call it apocryphal which means bible-like — good spiritual reading, but not essential.
Here's the story line in short: Tobit has a son named Tobias. Father Tobit goes blind. He sends Tobias on a journey to retrieve money that is owed him. Tobias' mother protests as she's afraid harm will come to the boy along the way. So for protection and direction Tobias finds a companion (Raphael) who will lead him to the man who owes the money. Along the way a fish jumps out of the water and Raphael instructs the boy to to keep the fish guts which will come in handy later. When the two arrive at their destination Tobias meets Sarah who seems to have had a curse put on her — a demon has seen to it that all seven of her new husbands die on their wedding night. YIKES! Raphael tells Tobias how to turn the fish innards into incense which frightens the demon away. Tobias and Sarah marry and Tobias survives the night. Hooray! They return with the remaining fish parts to cure Tobit's blindness. But this is perhaps the most important part— throughout the story young Tobias is intent on thanking Raphael for his assistance. Raphael keeps bringing Tobias home the essential truth — it is not he who is to be thanked, but God. Give God the Glory.
Here the artist depicts a moment in the journey as full of bright, exuberant life. Tobias is a little guy — aren't we all? Even autocrats and war mongers for all their gross prowess and display are little before God. Look at how eager this little Tobias is — hand-holding, energized and attentive to the angel. It's interesting that Fritz von Uhde depicts the Angel Raphael in such a conventional, white-robed, gold-touched and winged way, while he otherwise paints all of his bible figures in contemporary dress. I wonder what prevented him from being more creative. Maybe he figured he had to show Raphael in standard angel apparel so that people wouldn't think this was just two guys going for a walk.
So what might we make of this story and the image?
Ours is a paradise world of life and light. "More's the pity" we so degrade it.
Give God the glory.
Perhaps I can tell a story of being shown a right path while being led along the way.
Give God the Glory.
Can I identify a time when I felt as if heaven (angel like) had taken me by the hand?
Give God the Glory.
Can I name a time when my own inner blindness had been healed?
Give God the Glory.
Was there ever a time in my life when I know I may have been saved from death?
Give God the Glory.
