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Christ as the Angel of Jehovah (1)
Exodus 3:2
Good News From The Redeemer

Sermon by Pastor Daniel Parks
Radio Message #304 - January 29, 2000

The well-known account of Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-4:17) is introduced with these words: "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush" (3:1f). Our present focus of attention is on the person who appeared to Moses from within its flame. Who is this "Angel of Jehovah"?

I. This Angel of Jehovah is the special messenger from Jehovah. (Our English word angel derives from the Greek word for "messenger," angelos.) When we think of angels, those of the angelic order come first to mind. These spirits are God's servants (Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 1:14) and messengers (as in Matthew 2:13, 19). Foremost among them are Michael the archangel (Jude v.9) and Gabriel (Luke 1:19, 26). Their order includes the cherubim (Ezekiel 10:1ff) and the seraphim (Isaiah 6:2ff).

However, the angel mentioned in our text is not of the angelic order, because …

II. This Angel of Jehovah, although distinct from Jehovah, is nevertheless Jehovah Himself! How may we know?

1. This Angel bears the divine names. i. He is throughout this passage identified as "LORD [Hebrew Jehovah]" and "God [Hebrew Elohim]" (from 3:4) - the former being God's name par excellence. ii. He declares "I am the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (3:6, 13; 4:5). iii. He declares "I AM WHO I AM" (3:14a) - the name which expresses the idea of His existence being real, perfect, unconditioned, independent, and eternal. iv. He identifies Himself as "I AM" (3:14b), an abbreviated form of the preceding name. v. He declares "LORD God [Hebrew Jeho vah Elohim] of your fathers … is My name forever" (3:15, 16; 4:5). vi. And He identifies Himself as "LORD God of the Hebrews" (3:18) as an expression of His covenantal relationship with that nation.

This Angel is identified in other texts as "You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees [Hebrew El Roi]" (Genesis 16:13) and as "Lord GOD [Hebrew Adonai Jehovah]" (Judges 6:22). And His name is so transcendently awesome that "it is wonderfu l" (Judges 13:18).

2. The presence of this Angel was the divine presence (3:5). It was for this reason that Moses was commanded "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." This Angel is definitely the divine "Angel of Jehovah's Presence" (Isaiah 63:9).

3. This Angel performed what Jehovah alone can perform. i. He promised that when Pharaoh would refuse to release the Israelites from bondage, "I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst" (3:20) - a promise which He ultimately fulfilled in ten plagues (chs.7-12). ii. He miraculously caused Moses' rod to change into a serpent, then back into the rod (4:1-5). iii. He miraculously caused Moses' hand to become leprous, then restored it (4:6-8). iv. He also identified Himself as the Creator and as He who causes man to be mute, deaf, seeing, or blind (4:11), and as Moses' enabler (4:12).

4. This Angel was revered by Moses as God (3:6): "Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God." This is a natural instinctive action for those who rightly perceive God's absolute holiness and their own complete lack of righteousness (cp. 1 Kings 19:13; Judges 13:22). Even the sinless cherubim cover their faces in God's presence! (Isaiah 6:2). God is too holy to look upon sinful man (Habakkuk 1:13), and man is too unrighteous to look upon the holy God (Exodus 33:20). God must either veil His own glory (as in Exodus 19:9), else man must cover his own face - unless he be covered in that perfect righteousness which must be imputed unto Him by God. And even though the glory of this Divine Angel of Jehovah was veiled by the flame, Moses still instinctively felt the need to cover his own face. Moses most certainly revered this Angel as God!

This Angel of Jehovah, distinct from Jehovah but nevertheless identified as Jehovah, was therefore Christ! (This truth will be expounded in the next message, D.V.)

Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205

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