The Doctrine of the Angel of Jehovah

We have already studied the Angel of Jehovah back in Gen. 16:7. However, for a brief run down:

The Angel of Jehovah—A Brief Summary

(1)     The angel of Jehovah is Jehovah, as He speaks in the first person for Jehovah (Gen. 16:10 22:15–17 Judges 2:1). He does not say, “Thus speaks Jehovah,” as a prophet would (Judges 6:8).

(2)     He speaks of Himself in the first person as God (Gen. 31:11–13 Ex. 3:2–6).

(3)     The Angel of Jehovah is distinguished from Jehovah (Isa. 63:7–10 Daniel 3:19–28 Zech. 1:12–13).

(4)     The Angel of Jehovah and Jehovah are sometimes so closely intertwined in a passage, that it is difficult to determine Who is Who (Zech. 1:14–21).

(5)     After the incarnation of Jesus Christ, there is no longer the need for the appearance of the Angel of the Lord as the Angel of the Lord. This is because the Angel of the Lord is Jesus Christ (John 1:18 6:46 1Tim. 6:13–16 Heb. 1:4).

(6)    Finally, no prophet is ever called an angel of God; they are called prophets or men of God, but never angels (which also means messenger in the Hebrew).

This, by no means, covers this doctrine properly; this short doctrine merely gives us a brief run-down and nothing more.

It may help to take a look at the appearances of the Angel of the Lord:

The Appearances of the Angel of Jehovah

Scripture

The Angel Appeared to...

Incident

Gen. 16:7–10

Hagar

The Angel of the Lord told Hagar to return to Sarah and promised her that should would bear many descendants.

Gen. 22:11–13

Abraham

He appeared to Abraham and stopped him from sacrificing his son.

Gen. 32:24–30

Jacob

He wrestled with Jacob through the night and blessed him at daybreak.

Ex. 3:1–8

Moses

The Angel of Jehovah spoke to Moses from the burning bush, promising to deliver the Israelites out of slavery to the Egyptians.

Ex. 14:19–20

Israelites

He protected the sons of Israel from the pursuing Egyptian army.

Ex. 23:2–23

Israelites

He prepared the children of Israel to enter into the Land of Promise.

Num. 22:22–35

Balaam

He stood in front of Balaam, not allowing him to move forward; and then sent him to deliver a message to Balak.

Joshua 5:13–15

Joshua

The Angel of Jehovah reassured Joshua in his role as commander of the army of Jehovah.

Judges 2:1–3

Israelites

He announced judgment against the Israelites for their sinful alliances with the Canaanites.

Judges 6:11–24

Gideon

The Angel of the Lord commissioned Gideon to fight against the Midianites.

1Chron. 21:16–22

David

The Angel of the Lord appears to David on the threshing floor of Araunah, where David built an altar to Jehovah.

1Kings 19:4–8

Elijah

He provides food for Elijah in the wilderness.

Isa. 37:36

Residents of Jerusalem

He delivers the residents of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army.

Daniel 3:25

Three Hebrew Men

He protects these three young Israelites from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace in Babylon.

This was taken and slightly edited from The NIV Study Bible; ©1995 by The Zondervan Corporation; p. 325.

This is taken from the Doctrine of the Angel of Jehovah (HTML) (PDF).

The Abbreviated Doctrine of the Angel of Jehovah

1.      The Angel of the Lord is one of the preincarnate forms of Jesus Christ.

2.      There are actually several names for the Angel of Jehovah, all of which are related to divine designations:

         1)      The Angel (Messenger, representative, one sent) of Jehovah. Gen. 16:7

         2)      The Angel of God. Gen. 21:17 31:11 21:17 Ex.14:19 Judges 6:20

         3)      The Angel (Messenger) who has redeemed me. Gen. 48:16

         4)      The Angel (Messenger) of His Presence (Face). Isa. 63:9

         5)      The Angel of the Covenant. Mal. 3:1

         6)      The Destroying Angel. 1Chron. 21:15 2Sam. 24:16

3.      The Angel of Jehovah is identified as Jehovah. Gen. 16:7-13 21:17-18 22:11-18 31:11-13 48:15,16 Ex. 3:2 cf. Acts 7:30-35 Ex. 13:21 14:19 Judges.2:1-4 5:23 6:11-23 13:3-22 2Sam. 24:16 Zech. 1:12-13.

         1)      Genesis 22:11-12 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." And He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

         2)      Genesis 31:11, 13 "Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, `Jacob,' and I said, `Here I am.' `I am the God {of} Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.' "

         3)      Exodus 3:2-4 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, "I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."

4.      The Angel of Jehovah is distinguished from Jehovah. Gen. 24:7 40 Ex. 23:20 32:34 Num. 20:16 1Chron. 21:15-18 Isa. 63:9 Zech. 1:12-13.

         1)      Exodus 32:34 "But go now, lead the people where I told you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you; nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin."

         2)      Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them; and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.

         3)      Zechariah 1:12-13 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long wilt Thou have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which Thou hast been indignant these seventy years?" And the LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.

5.       The Angel of Jehovah does the works of God.

         1)      He provides a substitutionary sacrifice for Abram and blesses Abraham, confirming promises given to him by God. Gen. 22:11–18

         2)      The Angel of Jehovah imposes God’s will upon Balaam in Num. 22:22–35

         3)      The Angel of the Lord becomes the Savior of Israel as well as their Redeemer. Isa. 63:8–9 He [God] said, "They are indeed My people, children who will not be disloyal," and He became their Savior. In all their suffering, He suffered, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. He redeemed them because of His love and compassion; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past. Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, Who has given Himself as our ransom. Matt. 20:28 Col. 1:14

6.      Therefore, the Angel of Jehovah is the Second Person of the Trinity. John 1:18 6:46 2Cor. 4:4 Col. 1:15 1Tim. 6:16 Heb. 1:1–2 1John 4:12.

         1)      The Second Person of the Trinity is the visible God of the New Testament.

                  (1)     John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God [Jesus Christ the Son], who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained {Him.}

                  (2)     John 6:46 "Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One [Jesus Christ] who is from God; He has seen the Father.

                  (3)     1John 4:12a No one has beheld God at any time;

         2)      The Angel of Jehovah never appears after the Incarnation. Note that Acts 12:7, 11 is not a reference to the Angel of Jehovah but to “an angel” from the Lord (Jesus Christ). (cf. Col. 3:1)

         3)      Both the Angel of Jehovah and Jesus Christ are sent by the Father. Gen. 24:7 Ex. 23:20 Num. 20:16 Dan. 3:25, 28 6:22 John 3:17 6:44 John 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25 1John 4:14

         4)      Since neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit can be seen by man (John 1:18 John 4:24 3:8), and since Jesus Christ has been seen (John 1:14 John 18b; 14:9), it is concluded that Jesus Christ is the Angel of Jehovah or the visible member of the Godhead in the Old Testament.

7.      Other pre-incarnate appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament which are not specifically spoken of as the Angel of Jehovah:

         1)      ...the Lord God (Jehovah Elohim) walking in the garden... Gen. 3:8

         2)      ...a man wrestled with him (Jacob)... Gen. 32:24-32;

         3)      …the Lord appeared to Abram… Gen. 17:1-22; 18:1, 2, 10, 13, 14, 17-33

         4)      ...a man (captain of the army, or host, of Jehovah)...with his sword drawn... Joshua 5:13-15 6:1–2

         5)      The destroying angel, most likely the Angel of the Lord in 1 Chron. 21:15

         6)      ...a man riding on a red horse... from Zech. 1:8-12

         7)      ...a certain man dressed in linen... Dan. 10:5-9 12:6-13; cf. Ezek. 1:26-28 Rev. 1:12-20

Bibliography:

Basic doctrine is taken from http://gracebiblechurchwichita.org/?page_id=28 which are probably notes taken from R. B. Thieme, Jr.. and from http://www.swordofthespiritbibleministries.com/images/simplelists//NOTESAF/Angel%20of%20Jehovah.pdf

http://www.portlandbiblechurch.com/DoctrineFolder/DOCTRINE%20OF%20THE%20ANGEL%20OF%20JEHOVAH.pdf