By Philippe Sterling
Titled Appearances of the Angel of the Lord
- Genesis 16:7-13 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar.
- Genesis 22:11-18 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Abraham.
- Exodus 3:1-9 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Moses.
- Numbers 22:22-35 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Balaam.
- Judges 2:1-5 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to the Israelites.
- Judges 6:11-24 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon.
- Judges 13:1-23 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Samsons’ parents.
- 1 Chronicles 21:14-27 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to David.
- 1 Kings 19:1-8 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Elijah.
- Zechariah 1:7-17 – The Angel of the LORD appeared to Zechariah.
The Old Testament uses the title the Angel of the LORD––literally, the Messenger of Yahweh––in recording ten appearances of an enigmatic figure.i A survey of the ten titled appearances helps in revealing the identity of the Angel of the LORD.
The Angel of the LORD appears to be both Yahweh and distinct from Yahweh (cf. John 1:1). He is sometimes referred to as Elohim (God) and Yahweh in the same context. He accepted worship as God.
He appeared in human form and talked with individuals, such as Hagar, as well as to a large gathering of the nation of Israel. He visited and ate food with Abraham, and Abraham interceded with Him on behalf of those who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah.
The appearance of the Angel of Yahweh to Moses in the burning bush may be linked with other indicators of God’s glorious presence such as the pillars of cloud and fire that guided the Israelites in the wilderness and the shekinah glory in the tabernacle and temple.
Paul told the Corinthians that the Rock that followed Israel in the wilderness was Christ (1 Cor 10:4).
John wrote that the Word who was with God and who was God and who created all things was incarnated as Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3, 14-18).
The Angel of Yahweh was the Second Person of the Trinity who occasionally took on the appearance of a man in the OT and who, in the NT, was actually born as the Man we know as Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus is the Lamb of God “foreordained before the foundation of the world” to be slain to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Rev 13:8). From Adam and Eve onward, He gives everlasting life to all who believe in Him for it (John 3:16; 5:24; 11:25-27; 20:31; 1 Tim 1:16; Rev 22:17).
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Philippe Sterling is the pastor of Vista Ridge Bible Fellowship in Lewisville, TX. He and his wife of 45 years, Brenda, live in Denton, TX, near their daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, Ben, and grandkids.
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i Editor’s note: The expression the angel of the Lord occurs once in the NT in Matt 1:24, “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife…” This angel is called “an angel” a few verses earlier (Matt 1:20). Since Mary was already carrying the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 1:18), this angel was not Him.
