In Isaiah 48v12-16 and Zech 2v8-11, we read of one Yahweh being sent by another Yahweh, and in Mal 3v1 we read of Yahweh sending “the true Lord” as His messenger. In John 1v18 we read that no man has seen God at any time, this undoubtedly means that no man has seen the glory of the Father in all His unveiled fullness; however, the Lord Jesus has manifested and declared the Father's character and glory. John 14v7-11, 17v6,26. In the Old Testament many manifestations of Yahweh were undoubtedly the manifestations of God the Word revealing Himself to mankind before His incarnation. In these revelations Jesus is called Yahweh, and yet, because the Father has sent Him, He is also called Messenger too. Christ is sometimes called “Yahweh Malak,” “Yahweh Messenger.” and these are without doubt the appearances of God the Word before His incarnation. In these appearances Christ is called Yahweh, and yet because the Father has sent Him, The words “Yahweh Malak,” translated in the Authorised Version as “angel of the Lord,” are better translated “Yahweh Messenger.
Bishop Horsley states:
“The term “Angel of the Lord,” which so often occurs in the English Bible, is so ill conformed to the original that, it is to be feared, it has led many into the error of conceiving of “the Lord,” as one person, and of “the Angel” as another. The word of the Hebrew, ill rendered “the Lord,” is not, like the English word, an appellative, expressing rank or condition, but it is the proper name Jehovah. And this proper name is not, in the Hebrew, a genitive after the noun substantive “Angel,” as the English represents it; but the words “Jehovah” and “Angel” are two substantive nouns in apposition, both speaking of the same person, the one by the appropriate name of essence, the other by the title of office. “Jehovah angel” would be a better rendering.” End of quote.
This is why Moses was very sad, when, after the idolatry of Israel at Sinai, the personal guidance and presence of the Lord was withdrawn, and the Lord said, “Mine angel shall go before thee.” Exodus 32v1-35. NB: v34, 14v19,24, 23v20-23, 33v2. “Mine angel,” could be “His angel,” Gen 24v7,40, Dan 3v28, 6v22; and “the angel of His presence,” Isaiah 63v9; the angel who is the special messenger of Christ, and was trusted to impart to John, the prophecies, warnings, and Divine consolations contained in the book of Revelation, who in all probability is Gabriel. Rev 1v1, 22v16.
These manifestations of “Yahweh Messenger,” are clearly distinct from visitations by ordinary angelic messengers. Our Lord, as God the Word and Yahweh Messenger, personally visited the following.
a) Our Lord visited Hagar in the wilderness
In Gen 16v3-16, it was Yahweh who spoke to Hagar, she called Him, “You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees.” v7,9,10,11,13, cf. Gen 21v9-21, Gal 4v21-31, NB: Gen 16v7-11. Hagar's promise.
b) Our Lord visited Abraham on several occasions
Yahweh, undoubtedly Jesus, visited Abraham in Gen 15v1 and said He was Abraham's shield and exceeding great reward. In Gen 17v1, He revealed Himself as “El Shaddai,” the Almighty God, and again visited Abraham at Mamre. Gen 18v1-33. He comes as a man (Theophany) with two others, who are later, declared to be angels. Gen 18v1,22 with 19v1,15. He says that He is Yahweh, v1, and Abraham calls Him Yahweh, and Moses writes that it was Yahweh. Gen 18v1,17,19,20,22,25,26,33. The Lord has a meal with Abraham, and promises Abraham a child named Isaac within a year, which was miraculously fulfilled. What a privilege to have the Lord to visit him! However, we have an even greater privilege, Christ has condescended to come and live in us, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” Col 1v27.
The Lord shares with Abraham His proposed judgement upon Sodom and the other evil cities of the plain; and Abraham calls his visitor, “the Judge of the whole earth.” After an impassioned discussion about the destruction of Sodom, the Scripture says, “then Yahweh went on His way.” Gen 18v17,22,25,33. See John 5v22. The angels then went to Sodom and rescued Lot, and destroyed Sodom. Gen 19v1,13,22,28. Note how Lot's sons in law thought the warning of judgement to be a joke. Gen 19v14.
In Gen 22v11-18 God tests Abraham, and ‘Yahweh Malak’ speaks in the first person as Yahweh and Abraham calls the name of that place. “Yahweh Jireh.” Gen 22v1,11,14-18.
c) Our Lord visited Jacob at Bethel
In Gen 31v11-13, Yahweh Malak says that He is the God of Bethel, and directs Jacob to leave Laban and return to the land of his kindred; and in Gen 32v24-32 Jacob wrestles at Peniel with God.
d) Our Lord visited Moses in the burning bush at Horeb
In Exodus 3v1-16, the Angel, “Yahweh Messenger,” in the bush in v2, is called “Yahweh” and “God” in v4, and “the God of Abraham” in v6; and “the Great I Am” in v14. He says that the Israelites are His people and promises them deliverance. v7,17. This promise of deliverance was fulfilled by Yahweh, Exodus 13v21 with 14v19. At Sinai the Yahweh who came down, Exodus 19v20,21, is Christ Jesus in the New Testament, Heb 12v24-26. See Heb 11v26, Deut 6v16 with 1Cor 10v9.
e) Our Lord visited and warned the sorcerer Balaam
God’s protecting presence guarded Israel. When Balaam tried to use occult powers against Israel, he found himself face to face with God. Balaam did not heed the warnings miraculously given through his donkey, or the direct warnings of our Lord, and as a result died for it. Numb 22v9-35, 31v8.
f) Our Lord visited Joshua just before the battle of Jericho
In Joshua 5v13 to 6v3, the Lord of Hosts, the captain of the armies of God visits Joshua and gives him the orders on how to capture Jericho. The captain of the Lord's host is called Yahweh, and His presence made the ground Holy. Judges 6v2.
g) Many other visits of Yahweh Jesus
Time would fail us to tell of all of the visitations of Yahweh Jesus to mankind, we can only touch on a few of them. Heb 11v32.
1) Gideon and Yahweh Malak. Judges 6v11-25.
2) Manoah and his wife, Yahweh Malak and Samson. Judges 13v1-25.
3) Samuel's childhood visitation. 1Sam 3v1-21.
4) Our Lord judges Israel after David sins in numbering Israel. 1Chron 21v1-30, NB: v12,18,30 and 2Sam 24v16.
5) Our Lord visits Elijah. 1Kings 19v5-7 and 2Kings 1v3,15. etc.
6) Yahweh Jesus defends God's children. Psalm 34v7, 35v5,6, 1Peter 1v4,5.
7) Our Lord destroys Sennacherib's army in a mighty act of Divine judgement. 2Kings 19v35 and Isaiah 37v36-38.
8) Joshua the high priest. Zech 3v1-10. See Zech 4v1, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
Before God the Word was made flesh, He was totally involved with mankind, in a wide variety of commands, words and acts.
Yahweh Shalom
Bishop Horsley states:
“The term “Angel of the Lord,” which so often occurs in the English Bible, is so ill conformed to the original that, it is to be feared, it has led many into the error of conceiving of “the Lord,” as one person, and of “the Angel” as another. The word of the Hebrew, ill rendered “the Lord,” is not, like the English word, an appellative, expressing rank or condition, but it is the proper name Jehovah. And this proper name is not, in the Hebrew, a genitive after the noun substantive “Angel,” as the English represents it; but the words “Jehovah” and “Angel” are two substantive nouns in apposition, both speaking of the same person, the one by the appropriate name of essence, the other by the title of office. “Jehovah angel” would be a better rendering.” End of quote.
This is why Moses was very sad, when, after the idolatry of Israel at Sinai, the personal guidance and presence of the Lord was withdrawn, and the Lord said, “Mine angel shall go before thee.” Exodus 32v1-35. NB: v34, 14v19,24, 23v20-23, 33v2. “Mine angel,” could be “His angel,” Gen 24v7,40, Dan 3v28, 6v22; and “the angel of His presence,” Isaiah 63v9; the angel who is the special messenger of Christ, and was trusted to impart to John, the prophecies, warnings, and Divine consolations contained in the book of Revelation, who in all probability is Gabriel. Rev 1v1, 22v16.
These manifestations of “Yahweh Messenger,” are clearly distinct from visitations by ordinary angelic messengers. Our Lord, as God the Word and Yahweh Messenger, personally visited the following.
a) Our Lord visited Hagar in the wilderness
In Gen 16v3-16, it was Yahweh who spoke to Hagar, she called Him, “You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees.” v7,9,10,11,13, cf. Gen 21v9-21, Gal 4v21-31, NB: Gen 16v7-11. Hagar's promise.
b) Our Lord visited Abraham on several occasions
Yahweh, undoubtedly Jesus, visited Abraham in Gen 15v1 and said He was Abraham's shield and exceeding great reward. In Gen 17v1, He revealed Himself as “El Shaddai,” the Almighty God, and again visited Abraham at Mamre. Gen 18v1-33. He comes as a man (Theophany) with two others, who are later, declared to be angels. Gen 18v1,22 with 19v1,15. He says that He is Yahweh, v1, and Abraham calls Him Yahweh, and Moses writes that it was Yahweh. Gen 18v1,17,19,20,22,25,26,33. The Lord has a meal with Abraham, and promises Abraham a child named Isaac within a year, which was miraculously fulfilled. What a privilege to have the Lord to visit him! However, we have an even greater privilege, Christ has condescended to come and live in us, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” Col 1v27.
The Lord shares with Abraham His proposed judgement upon Sodom and the other evil cities of the plain; and Abraham calls his visitor, “the Judge of the whole earth.” After an impassioned discussion about the destruction of Sodom, the Scripture says, “then Yahweh went on His way.” Gen 18v17,22,25,33. See John 5v22. The angels then went to Sodom and rescued Lot, and destroyed Sodom. Gen 19v1,13,22,28. Note how Lot's sons in law thought the warning of judgement to be a joke. Gen 19v14.
In Gen 22v11-18 God tests Abraham, and ‘Yahweh Malak’ speaks in the first person as Yahweh and Abraham calls the name of that place. “Yahweh Jireh.” Gen 22v1,11,14-18.
c) Our Lord visited Jacob at Bethel
In Gen 31v11-13, Yahweh Malak says that He is the God of Bethel, and directs Jacob to leave Laban and return to the land of his kindred; and in Gen 32v24-32 Jacob wrestles at Peniel with God.
d) Our Lord visited Moses in the burning bush at Horeb
In Exodus 3v1-16, the Angel, “Yahweh Messenger,” in the bush in v2, is called “Yahweh” and “God” in v4, and “the God of Abraham” in v6; and “the Great I Am” in v14. He says that the Israelites are His people and promises them deliverance. v7,17. This promise of deliverance was fulfilled by Yahweh, Exodus 13v21 with 14v19. At Sinai the Yahweh who came down, Exodus 19v20,21, is Christ Jesus in the New Testament, Heb 12v24-26. See Heb 11v26, Deut 6v16 with 1Cor 10v9.
e) Our Lord visited and warned the sorcerer Balaam
God’s protecting presence guarded Israel. When Balaam tried to use occult powers against Israel, he found himself face to face with God. Balaam did not heed the warnings miraculously given through his donkey, or the direct warnings of our Lord, and as a result died for it. Numb 22v9-35, 31v8.
f) Our Lord visited Joshua just before the battle of Jericho
In Joshua 5v13 to 6v3, the Lord of Hosts, the captain of the armies of God visits Joshua and gives him the orders on how to capture Jericho. The captain of the Lord's host is called Yahweh, and His presence made the ground Holy. Judges 6v2.
g) Many other visits of Yahweh Jesus
Time would fail us to tell of all of the visitations of Yahweh Jesus to mankind, we can only touch on a few of them. Heb 11v32.
1) Gideon and Yahweh Malak. Judges 6v11-25.
2) Manoah and his wife, Yahweh Malak and Samson. Judges 13v1-25.
3) Samuel's childhood visitation. 1Sam 3v1-21.
4) Our Lord judges Israel after David sins in numbering Israel. 1Chron 21v1-30, NB: v12,18,30 and 2Sam 24v16.
5) Our Lord visits Elijah. 1Kings 19v5-7 and 2Kings 1v3,15. etc.
6) Yahweh Jesus defends God's children. Psalm 34v7, 35v5,6, 1Peter 1v4,5.
7) Our Lord destroys Sennacherib's army in a mighty act of Divine judgement. 2Kings 19v35 and Isaiah 37v36-38.
8) Joshua the high priest. Zech 3v1-10. See Zech 4v1, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
Before God the Word was made flesh, He was totally involved with mankind, in a wide variety of commands, words and acts.
Yahweh Shalom
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