“Don’t forget to show hospitality to
strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without
realizing it!” (Heb. 13:2)
The idea of
mankind encountering an angel has inspired several books, TV shows and movies.
In the Bible we find several such encounters: angels protecting the Garden of
Eden in the book of Genesis, angels giving messages to certain people and
angels worshiping God in Revelation.
However, there is
one Angel who is clouded in mystery and has generated much debate about who He
is. This is angels is known by a few different phrases “The Angel of the LORD”
(used 56 times in the OT) “The Angel of God” (used 9 times in the OT), and a
few select others (see Gen. 18:1ff; 32:24-32; Josh. 5:14-15; etc.).
A careful
examination of these passages reveal several clues as to the identity of this
mysterious individual. The first clue to consider is the Angel’s activity. At
times, this Angel acts as a mediator between sinful man and the righteous God
(Zech. 1:9-17). Yet, Scripture says, “For there is one God and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
A second clue
from this Angel’s activity relates to how He is found defending God’s people
while acting as the supreme Judge, carrying out punishment upon those who have
refused to repent of their sins (2 Sam. 24:16-16; Zech. 12:8; 2 Kings 19:35).
This is a role which Scripture gives to Jesus (John 9:39; Rev. 19:11-21).
Third, this
Angel has the authority to forgive sins (Ex. 23:20-21; Num. 22:34-35; Isa.
6:5-6; Zech. 3:4). Only someone who is God has this authority—not any saint,
priest, pope or normal angel can do this according to Scripture (Mark
2:7). Similarly, fourth, the Angel was
declared to be the Savior (Gen. 48:15-16; Isa. 63:9). The One true God is the
only Savior (Acts 4:10-12).
Fifth, the
Angel of the Lord received worship (Gen. 16:13; 31:13; Judges 6:21-23; 13:23).
This is something that clearly separates “The Angel of the Lord” from all the
other angels mentioned in Scripture. After an angel had shown the Apostle John
the visions contained in the book of Revelation, John fell down on his knees to
worship that angel. However, immediately that angel rebuked John by saying,
“No, don’t do anything like that. I, too, am a servant of Jesus as you are, and
as your brothers the prophets are, as well as all those who heed the truth
stated in this book. Worship God alone" (Rev. 22:9 TLB). Yet the Angel of
the LORD never rebuked people for worshiping Him; that points to Him being more
than just a mere angel.
Sixth, the
Angel is called God (Gen. 16:10; 32:30; Hos. 12:3-5). Seventh the Angel claimed
to be God (Gen. 22:12; 31:11-13; Judges 6:22; 13:21-22). Similarly eighth, the
Angel claimed to be Yahweh/Jehovah (Ex. 3:2-6; Judges 2:1-5; 6:11-16).
Lastly, the NT
identifies the Angel whom Isaiah encountered (Isa. 6:1-5) as Jesus Christ
Himself (John 12:37-41). Additionally, some translations of Galatians 3:17
(KJV, NKJV) affirm that God’s covenant with His chosen people was confirmed in
the OT by Christ. All of these things point to Jesus being physically present
throughout the OT era.
Some might
question how the Angel of the LORD can be God Himself when Scripture says that
“No one has seen God...” (John 1:18a). The answer is given by simply reading
what the remainder of the verse says: “...but God the One and Only, who is at
the Father’s side, has made Him known” (John 1:18b). In other words, when
Scripture states that no one has ever seen God, it is in reference to God the
Father. Yet through Jesus Christ the Father has been revealed (John 14:7-11).
So why is it
important to recognize that the Angel of the Lord s Jesus? It is important
because it shows God’s close, personal and loving hand guiding the history of
mankind towards the great plan of salvation. He is not a distant being without
care for His creation. The great theologian John Calvin wrote, “For even though
He was not yet clothed with flesh, He came down, so to speak, as an
intermediary, in order to approach believers more intimately”
(http://calvinsinstitutes.tumblr.com/page/8).
Furthermore, as
one considers the Angel of the Lord in the OT passages they find a foretaste of
what Jesus would do during His 33 years on this planet as a man: from His birth
to His ascension back into heaven. And likewise it is a picture of the
foretaste that we as believers have now through the indwelling presence of the
Holy Spirit. Then one day we, as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, will see
Him face to face and be with Him for eternity. And from now on may we see
throughout the Bible what Jesus revealed to the two men on the road to Emmaus
after His resurrection: the entire Bible revealing and reuniting mankind to
Jesus (Luke 24:27).
In His service,
Matt
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