Angelology: Part Six (The Angel of the Lord)

The Angel of the Lord

· Introduction and Overview
° The Angel of the LORD, often mentioned as the Angel of God, is a heavenly being sent by God as His representative and spokesman. The Hebrew words are Malak Jehovah or messenger of Jehovah. Many scholars believe this Angel to be the pre-incarnate Christ. Proponents of this view assert that names given to Jesus in the Old Testament were preparing people to be able to understand His work after incarnation. Also, some of the work of the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament parallels with Christ’s work for believers in the church age. In the Old Testament, interactions between the Angel of the LORD and mankind reveal that He is often treated as if He were God. In the New Testament, the wording is more ambiguous. Instead of using the Angel of the LORD, an angel of the Lord (Luke 2:9) is used. This shift further supports the idea that the Angel of the LORD is the pre-incarnate Christ because the appearances of this angel cease after the Son’s incarnation. Below is detailed Biblical information concerning the Angel of the Lord.

· His functions and appearances

° Identified as the LORD by humans

· Hagar talks to the LORD in the wilderness – Genesis 16:7, 21:17

· Abraham talks to the LORD at Isaac’s sacrifice – Genesis 22:1

· Moses talks to the LORD at the burning bush – Exodus 3:2

· Gideon talks to the LORD under the terebinth tree – Judges 6:11

° Protector and provider for the LORD’s people

· Led the Israelites in the wilderness – Exodus 14:19, 23:20, 32:34

· Promised protection for those who seek the LORD – Psalm 34:7

° Agent of destruction and judgment

· Stood in the way of Balaam – Numbers 22:22-35

· Told Israel of its disobedience and judges – Judges 2:1-4

· Judged Israel for David’s sin – 2 Samuel 24:16-17, 1 Chronicles 21:12-30

· Destroyed Sennacherib’s army – 2 Kings 19:35, 2 Chronicles 32:21, Isaiah 37:36

· David prayed for the Angel of the LORD to deliver him from his enemies – Psalm 35:5

° Offers guidance and gives instruction

· Guided Israel in the wilderness – Exodus 23:23

· Told Elijah where to go – 1 Kings 19:7, 2 Kings 1:3, 15

· Instructed Joseph about Jesus’ birth and Herod’s plan to kill Him Matthew 1:20-24, 2:13

· Told Philip where to go to minister – Acts 8:26

° Foretold the births of special men

· Explained the future ministry of Samson to his parents – Judges 13:3-21

· Promised and gave the name for John the Baptist – Luke 1:11

· Told of Jesus’ birth to Joseph – Matthew 1:20-24

· Additional information and research

° The name “Malak YWH” is a special title denotes a higher status, possibly the LORD himself

° His identity is regarded through the scriptural record as equal with YWH

· Genesis 16:10 – promise to Hagar that her son will have many descendants. These promises can be made by God alone. It should be noted that in Chapter 17 of Genesis, the LORD appears to Abram and makes the same promise.

· Exodus 3:2-6 – it would seem the angel of the LORD and the LORD are one here.

· Judges 6:12ff – the angel of the Lord appears, the LORD is talking, in 20-21, he is referred to again as the angel of the LORD

° Distinct for YWH

· Zechariah 1:8-14: the angel of the LORD intercedes

· Zechariah 3 – the angel of the LORD calls out to YWH to rebuke Satan

° The Angel of the LORD as preincarnate Christ

· The Son is the visible God of the NT (John 1:14,18; 14:9); so the Son was the visible representative of God in the OT

· The appearances of this angel ceased after the Son’s incarnation (Matthew 1:20 should be taken as AN angel of the LORD)

· Both the angel of the Lord and the Son were sent by God and had similar ministries