The Great Angel

“See, I am sending an Angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. Pay close attention to Him, and obey His instructions. Do not rebel against Him, for He is My Representative, and He will not forgive your rebellion. But if you are careful to obey Him, following all My instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. For My Angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely. You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars. You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives. I will send My terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run. I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites.” Exodus 23:20-28 (NLT)

Who was this Angel that went with the Israelites after leaving Egypt? Many biblical scholars have put forth various ideas and suggestions of the mysterious guardian “Angel of the LORD” or “Angel of God.” This Angel appears often in the early Old Testament story and is sometimes identified with the God (see Genesis 16:7-13; Genesis 18:1-33; Genesis 22:11-18; Genesis 24:7, 40; Genesis 31:11-13; Genesis 32:24-30; Genesis 48:15-16; Exodus 3:2-6; Exodus 14:19; Exodus 23:20-23; Exodus 32:34-33:5; Numbers 22:22-35; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 2:1-5; Judges 6:11-23; Judges 9:13-23). Some scholars have called the “Angel of the LORD” an anarchangel, such as Michael (Daniel 10:13; Daniel 12:1) or Gabriel (Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:11, 19, 26). In other words, the Angel was a “chief or first angel” angel. Angels are essentially messengers from God.

Most biblical scholars agree that the Angel in Exodus was a manifestation of God (see also Exodus 14:9). In other words, God was in the Angel in the same way He was present in the pillars of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22). Many biblical scholars call this Angel a Theophany, a self-manifestation of God. The Angel here speaks as God, identifies Himself with God, and claims to exercise the privileges of God (see also Genesis 16:7-14; Genesis 21:17-21; Genesis 22:11-18; Genesis 31:11, 13; Exodus 3:2; Exodus 14:19; Exodus 33:14-15; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 2:1-4; Judges 5:23; Judges 6:11-24; Judges 13:3-22; 2 Samuel 24:16; Zechariah 1:12; Zechariah 3:1; Zechariah 12:8). The Angel of the Lord speaks for God in the first person as God’s Messenger-Servant. Because the Angel of the Lord ceases to appear after the incarnation (advent or arrival) of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, many biblical scholars often concluded that this Angel in the Old Testament is a pre-incarnate appearance or manifestation of the second Person of the Holy Trinity – the Lord Jesus Christ (the Son of the living God). In other words, this special Messenger-Servant was Jesus Christ Himself – the One who appeared in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2). Whether this “Angel” was the second Person of the Trinity remains therefore uncertain.

After clearly stating Israel’s requirements of the covenant (Exodus 19:1-23:19), God stated His part of the covenant promises. If the people kept the covenant requirements, God promised to protect the people (see Exodus 19:5-6; Exodus 23:22-23). God told Moses and the Israelites that He was sending an Angel to go ahead of the Israelites to guard them along the way and to bring them safely to His Promised Land (Canaan) (Exodus 23:20, 23). The Angel was God’s Presence to provide protection, help, and guidance for the Israelites. God instructed the Israelites to respect the Angel, to pay attention to the Angel, and to obey all of His instructions (Exodus 23:21). The Israelites were not to rebel against the Angel of the Lord (Exodus 23:21). If the Israelites disobeyed, the Angel will not forgive their wrongdoing and rebellion (Exodus 23:21). The Angel was God’s Presence or Representative because the Angel bore God’s Name (Exodus 23:21). God’s “Name” is equivalent to God’s “Presence” (see Exodus 3:13-15, 2 Samuel 7:13; 1 King 5:5). Essentially, God’s very nature and God’s Presence was with the Angel. Without the Presence of God, the people could not receive God’s blessings and protection.

Even more, God promised Israel’s protection and success through obedience to the Angel. God promised Israel that if they listened carefully to the Angel and do all that He says, God would be an enemy to Israel’s enemies and will oppose those who opposed Israel (Exodus 23:22). This promised was a repeating of Genesis 12:3. God previously promised to “bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt” (Genesis 12:3, NLT). In other words, participation in God’s divine blessings of the Abrahamic covenant as well as the Sinai covenant was conditioned on Israel’s obedience and trust in the Angel of the Lord (see Genesis 17:1-27; Genesis 18:18-19; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4-5; Exodus 19:3-6; Romans 1:5). God’s covenant promises (see e.g. Deuteronomy 28:1-14) were contingent upon absolute loyalty to the covenant of God. The Angel was the protector of the covenant (see Isaiah 63:9; Malachi 3:1). God promised Israel to bring His covenant blessings to those that obey and follow His instructions (see also Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 26:3-13; Deuteronomy 7:12-15; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Deuteronomy 31:1-10; Joshua 1:7-8). In other words, obedience to God’s covenant was the key to Israel’s blessings (Exodus 19:1-23:19; see also John 14:13, 23; Romans 1:5; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 6:7-10; James 1:22-25). Obedience to God’s covenant brings blessings and life (Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 19-20; see also Matthew 19:17; Hebrews 12:9). If you obey God, God promises to “will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be My people” (Leviticus 26:12, NLT).

God’s Angel would go ahead of the Israelites and bring them into the land He promised to give Abraham (see Genesis 15:17-21). God, not Israel, would take possession of the land (Exodus 23:29-31). The Promised Land would be a gift to Israel from the covenant God. Israel was granted possession of the land as long as they faithfully fulfilled God’s covenant. This land was currently held by the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites. God promised to remove these people from God’s Promised Land (Exodus 23:23). Once again, the true and living God (Yahweh) warned the Israelites against idolatry. God told the Israelites not to worship nor serve the gods of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites and do not imitate their evil practices in the land (Exodus 23:24). Idolatry is a great sin because idolatry means worshipping and following other gods and not worshipping and following the true and living God and not obeying His covenant.

Previously, God had given the Israelites specific laws and regulations with His Ten Commandments and Book of the Covenant so that Israel would be a holy (sanctified) nation and reflect God’s holy nature to the world (Exodus 19:1-23:19; see also Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:5, 9). If the Israelites loved, obeyed, and worshipped God and obeyed God’s covenant, His blessing will be on their lives, food, and water (Exodus 23:25). Even more, God promised to take away sickness from among Israel and provide the Israelites a full life span (Exodus 23:26). Again, God’s blessings would only come if the people worshipped and obeyed God and God’s covenant and not follow the evil practices of other pagan religions (Exodus 23:26). If the Israelites obeyed God from their heart, God promised to meet all their needs and defeat their enemies (Exodus 23:25-26).

Since the Old Testament, God has always commanded wholehearted obedience to Him and His covenant (Leviticus 26:41; Deuteronomy 30:6, 12-14; Jeremiah 9:26; see also Acts 7:51; Romans 2:28-29). Obedience to God’s covenant does not save people; only our wholehearted faith in God brings salvation (Romans 1:16-17, see also Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4). Salvation only comes through our faith, particularly faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17, see also Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Holy Scriptures teaches that salvation is a GIFT of God received only through true faith in Him (see Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet, we are sanctified (made holy or set apart) through our obedience to God and God’s covenant (Exodus 19:5-6; see also 1 Peter 2:5, 9).

Still more, God promised to send His fear before the Israelites (see Exodus 15:16; Exodus 23:27-30; Joshua 2:9–11). He promised to send panic and confusion to every nation they had to face in military action. The true and living God wanted the people to be wholly devoted and committed to Him. Through Israel’s love and worship, God would go before them, terrorize their enemies, and empower the Israelites to conquer their enemies and their land. Indeed, the “terror of God” did go before the Israelites and weaken the people and their hearts in Canaan (Joshua 2:9–11).

Jesus Christ is the only One that can forgive sins and only in Him is the wonderful Name of the Lord (Luke 5:21). Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9; see also John 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 John 4:2-3), and He has God's power to heal and forgive (see Matthew 4:23-25). In Jesus Christ is the fullness of God (Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9). In other words, the God of Israel is in Jesus Christ. God had prepared a place for the Israelites (Exodus 23:20) just as Jesus Christ is preparing a place for those that wholeheartedly love and obey Him (John 14:1-6). Amazingly, Jesus Christ’s visited earth in the Old Testament to help His people, to meet special needs, and to accomplish God’s special tasks (see Exodus 3:7-10; Exodus 23:23). To Abraham, Jesus Christ came as a Traveler to share in a friendly meal (Genesis 18:1-8). To Jacob, Jesus Christ came as a Wrestler to bring Jacob (also named Israel) to the place of submission (Genesis 32:22-32). To the three Hebrew boys, Jesus Christ came as their Companion in the furnace of fire (Daniel 3:25, 28). Joshua met Jesus Christ, the Captain of the Lord's armies, just before his battle with Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15). Jesus Christ always comes to us when we need Him and in the way we need Him.

The fact that the Son of God took on a temporary body, left heaven, and came down to help His people throughout the Old Testament surely reveals His grace and love. In the wilderness, the Israelites saw the visible manifestations of God and He taught the Israelites some important truths about Him. The Israelites should have learned that He is the living God who sees us and hears our cries when we hurt (Exodus 2:23-25). The true and living God is a personal God, concerned about all people who will trust Him. The book of Exodus is important to all believers in Jesus Christ because God came down to rescue His people from bondage and save His people (Exodus 3:8). With the advent of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, God once again came down to rescue and save His people (see also Matthew 1:21).

Some of Israelites did not trust and obey God and God’s covenant. The Israelites’ failure to trust God and God’s Presence lead some Israelites to be condemned to journey in the wilderness until the generation twenty years old and upward had all died, except for Caleb and Joshua. For thirty-eight years, God would guide His people and then bring them back to the borders of Promised Land with God’s Presence. So, what is God’s Presence? God’s Presence is essentially the fruit of the Holy Spirit – compassion, mercy, patience, unfailing love, faithfulness, and forgiveness (see Exodus 33:15-18; Exodus 34:6-7; Galatians 5:22-23).

References

King James Version Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1988.

KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994.

Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.

NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.

Ryrie Study Bible. Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995.

Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.

Butler, Trent. Holman Bible Dictionary. Broadman & Holman Pub., 1991.

Packer, J.I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Carol Stream, IL:  Tyndale House Pub., 1993.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.