Jesus is the Angel of the LORD:
An angel refers to a messenger or one sent, powerful creatures that serve God. This discussion will center on “The angel of the LORD.”
First, let’s begin by discussing the meaning and use of the definite article. The definite article is specific as to whom it is addressing. On the other hand, there is the indefinite article, which does not address anything or any one particular person or thing.
The definite articles “this and that” were originally demonstrative pronouns, but in Greek and later usage, mainly a pre-positive article, the. The definite article is for distinctions and distribution, “The one: The other: that one: this one: this, that, and the mark an object as definite, specific, as in no other.
The usage of languages varies much in respect to their articles, and in Greek especially, the usage seems in many cases never to have become fixed but to have been left to the taste and judgment of the writer or speaker, as is also in some measure the case with our English, “The.”
With Substantives or words standing for substantives:
Simply, without adjectives or other adjuncts, where the substantive is expressed as definite or specific. Generally, the substantive refers to a person or thing as well known, as either already mentioned, or as of common notoriety. In English,
When the definite article points to common notoriety.
Matthew 1:22, “The prophet,” meaning Isaiah.
Matthew 2:15, “By the prophet,” speaking of Hosea.
Matthew 2:4, “The people,” as in the Jewish people.
Romans 4:3, “The Scripture,” each being specific and independent of others.
Revelation 5:13, “Which is in heaven, and on the earth and under the earth, — in the sea, blessing and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him (the Creator,) that sits upon the throne,” As in the glory and power which belongs to God and none other.
Then there is the indefinite article, a, and, an, that’s used in the following manner.
Matthew 2:19, “When Herod was dead, behold, (an) angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.”
Also, in English, we would use it as, “Let me have (an) apple, (any) apple from that basket,” etc.
Compare it to the definite article “The, that, this.” Let me have (that apple) and no other.” Also, “The Lord,” meaning the one and only, “The King of kings,” representing the one and only King.
Let’s begin with, “The angel of the Lord,” also called “The angel of Jehovah.” In the O.T., we find the often-repeated phrase, “The angel of the Lord,” in which the messenger, in most cases, is regarded as a deity and yet distinguished from the Father.
In most cases, the Angel of the LORD is a title given to Jesus Christ in His many appearances to the prophets and others in the Old Testament. Jesus is the pre-incarnate Logos (The Word); his appearance is either angelic or human, foreshadowing his birth.
In human form, Daniel and others saw him.
Daniel 7:13, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of days (the Father,), and they (ministering angels) brought Him (the Son) near before Him (the Father.).”
Also, in Daniel, we see three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thrown into a fiery furnace by the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar. When the counselors looked into the furnace, they said,
Daniel 3:25, “I see four men lose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Jesus speaks of Himself in Matthew 24:30, “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven — and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
John has a vision,
Revelation 14:14, “I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud, one sat like unto the Son of man.” This is how John observed the pre-incarnate Son of God in person or visions.
Now, Genesis 16:7-10-14. “The angel of the LORD found her (Hagar) by a fountain of water in the wilderness.” Verse 10, “The Angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for the multitude.” Verse 13, “And she (Hagar) called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God sees me.”
Here, Hagar calls the Angel of the LORD “God.” God here in Hebrew is “El,” implying deity, the Almighty God. If this had been an angel, a created being, it would have spoken against Hagar’s words.
Genisus 22:11-18, “The angel of the LORD called unto him (Abraham) out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham.” Verse 14, “Abraham called the name of the place Jehovah-ji-reh. Verse 15-16, “The angel of the LORD called unto Abraham — the second time, and said, “By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD.”
Without a doubt, in Genesis 22, the Angel of the LORD is Jehovah Himself.
Exodus 3:2-4-6. “The angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in a flame of fire.” Verse 4, “When the LORD saw that he (Moses) turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.” Verse 6,
“Moreover He (the Angel of the LORD) said, I am the God of thy Father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”
Conclusion: three people were in that burning bush, or only one. One calling himself God, Lord, and Angel of God. There is no more substantial evidence of who the Angel of the LORD is.
Let me comment on the three titles. These titles are not proper names but characteristics, titles, or offices of the Lord Jesus.
1. Angel of the LORD, meaning the chief messenger sent by the Father.
2. Lord means head of the elect, the chosen people. In O.T. times, it was the Jews; in N.T. times, it is the church, and when everything is put under His feet, He will rule as Lord over his creation.
3. God means the Creator, the maker of all life and all worlds.
Genesis 31:11-13, “The angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying Jacob: Verses 12-13, “He (the angel of the LORD) said, I am the God of Bethel.”
One period in Jewish history shows how the Jews distinguished the Angel of the LORD from all created angels.
Exodus 23:20-21, “Behold, I (Jehovah) send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him, and obey His voice, provoke Him not; for He will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in Him.”
This Angel sent by God represents the guide and protector of the Jews in the wilderness. To this Angel, the Jews owed their conquests and settlement in the Promised Land. The Israelites cautioned to “Beware of Him,” to reverence and stand in dread of Him, that the pardoning of transgressions belonged to Him, and that the name of God was in Him, “Jehovah, the I am,” first appearance to Moses in the burning bush.
Exodus 3:14, “Thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you.”
Also, the names of God are indicative of His nature, and He had a right to bear the names of the Father in heaven, having also the essence of the Father.
Hebrews 1:3, Speaking of the Son of God, “Who being the brightness of His (the Father’s) glory, and the express image of His (the Father’s) person, and upholding all things by the word of His power.”
There is no doubt that Moses and the Jews understood this. When the sins of the Jews had provoked God, he threatened not to go up with them but to commit them to “an angel who should drive out the Canaanite,” the people mourned.
Moses took for himself a special intercession and rested not until he had obtained the repeal of that threat and the renewing of the old promise, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” With this, the Jews’ were satisfied, but not with another.
Moses had refused to accept an inferior conductor of the Jews, for he said to Jehovah, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”
The Angel of the LORD, also called in the O.T. the Word of God, was the Christ. We see Him presented as The Word of God; also, in the days of the law, this prepared the way by types and shadows, and lastly, for the new era of salvation by faith through Christ Jesus.
Another example of the “angel of the LORD” can be found in, Numbers 22:22-35, “The angel of the LORD stood in the way,” with verse 31, “The LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he (Balaam) saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way.”
Judges 6:12-23, “The Angel of the LORD appeared to him (Gideon.) Verse 22-23, “Gideon perceived that He was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. And the LORD (Jehovah) said unto him, peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.”
Judges 13:23-25, “The angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman.” In ver.8, “Manoah, the father of Sampson, called this angel of the LORD, “Jehovah.”
In verses 17-18, Manoah asked for the name of the Angel of the LORD. The Angel responded, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?”
The Hebrew word for ‘Secret’ is found only in Isaiah 9:6. The verse speaks of a child from God, “His name shall be called wonderful.” Wonderful and Secret are the same Hebrew, and both point to the future Messiah, Jesus Christ.
You can examine the following if you choose. 1 Chronicles 21:15-17. 1 Kings 19:5-7.
Jehovah, our Creator, our God, our Lord, the messenger of messengers, the bearer of good tidings, is the Word of God, our Savior Jesus Christ, The Angel of the LORD.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com