Angels are special spiritual being who, in former days, delivered messages from God. The Bible does not tell us when angels were created, but it must have been soon after the beginning of time on earth because Job mentions them as being present when God created the world, (Job 38:4-7). The study of angels is an interesting study, but there is one called “the angel of Jehovah” which is even more interesting. Some versions use the phrase “angel of the LORD.” (In this article I will be quoting from the NASB which uses LORD rather than Jehovah).
Hagar: The Bible first mentions this special angel when Hagar fled from Sarai her mistress who had mistreated her. “The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness,” (Genesis 16:7). “The angel of the LORD said to her, ‘I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count,’” (Genesis 16:10). Notice that this angel is not only delivering a message but is also the one who promises to greatly multiply her offspring. Only God can do that!
Abraham: The second mention of this unique being is found in Genesis 18. “Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre,” (v. 1). When Abraham “lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him,” (v. 2). He invited them to stay with him and during the visit one said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son,” (v.10). When they left Abraham two of those men (angels) went into Sodom (v. 22; Genesis 19:1), “while Abraham was still standing before the LORD,” (v. 22). Again, the text says that the LORD appeared to Abraham (18:1) and the LORD made a promise of Sarah’s conception, and then when the other two left, the text says that Abraham “was still standing before the LORD.” Again, this was no ordinary angel.
Abraham Again: Years later when that promised son, Isaac, was an adult, God commanded Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. When Abraham had bound his son and laid him on the altar, and drew back the knife to kill him, “the angel of the LORD called… ‘do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me,’” (Genesis 22:11-12). Notice it is the angel of the LORD who said He knew Abraham feared God because he had not withheld his son from “Me.” Again, the angel of the LORD is said to be God.
Jacob: When Jacob fled from his brother, he spent the night in Bethel (Luz) and the LORD appeared to him (Genesis 28:11-17). When he got ready to return to his homeland twenty years later, the angel of God appeared to him and said, “I am the God of Bethel” (Genesis 31:11-13). When he returned to Canaan, he spent the night at the ford of the Jabbok River “and a man wrestled with him until daybreak,” (Genesis 32:24). Hosea explained this event by saying, “Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed,” (12:4). Moses explained, “So Jacob named the place ‘Peniel,’ for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved,’” (Genesis 32:30). The “man” was an “angel” – The angel of the LORD. Near the time of Jacob’s death, he said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz,” (Genesis 48:3).
Moses: During the time Moses was the shepherd for his father-in-law’s sheep, “The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush,” (Exodus 3:1-2). When Moses turned to look at the burning bush, the angel of the LORD said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground,” (Exodus 3:5). No created angel ever demanded to be treated as holy! The angel of the LORD said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” (Exodus 3:6). Later, the angel said, “I Am Who I Am,” (Exodus 3:14). While Jesus was on earth He said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” (John 8:58).
The Nation of Israel: Moses recorded, “The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night,” (Exodus 13:21). But, in Exodus 14:19, the text says, “The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them.” In Numbers 20:16 the text says, “But when +we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out from Egypt.” After the Law had been given to Israel, God said, “Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared,” (Exodus 23:20). When God wanted to destroy Israel, Moses pled for them and God said, “My presence shall go with you,” (Exodus 33:14). When Isaiah recalled the mercies, God had bestowed on Israel and he looked back to God’s guidance of Israel, Isaiah said, “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them,” (63:9). Notice the word “presence” in both verses.
Joshua: When the nation of Israel was led into the Promised Land by Joshua, he had a very special visitor. “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword draw in his hand,” (Joshua 5:13). This “man” said, “I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD…remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy,” (Joshua 5:14-15). Note Joshua was told to do the same thing that Moses was told to do at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). The one who appeared to Joshua was said to be “captain of the host of the LORD.” Interestingly, as the Hebrew writer talks about Jesus “bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings,” (Hebrews 2:10 KJV).
Conclusion
In all the cases listed above, the angel was not an ordinary angel, but was deity who had authority to make promises and commands and who demanded worship. Which one of the persons of the godhead was the angel of the LORD?
In I Corinthians 10:1-11, Paul spoke about the children of Israel being delivered from bondage and being fed and watered in the wilderness. He wrote, “All drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ,” (v. 4).
God, the Son, not only created all things (Colossians 1:15-16) but was also busy as He delivered those special messages to God’s people and led them to the Promised Land. Since Christ, the Son of God, did that for them, we can be assured that He can also deliver us (I Corinthians 10:13)!
Wayne Burger