“The Angel of the Lord”
Angel of the Lord
Read:
• Ex. 3:1-6
• Josh 5:13-15
• Judges 13:16-22
And so.
There is this mysterious and curious title “Angel of the Lord.”
The Angel of the Lord appears in some of the most well-known moments in the Bible – such as Gen 22 with Abraham sacrificing Isaac.
It is the Angel of the Lord who calls to Abraham to stop.
And the Angel of the Lord Who then swears by Himself and promises Abraham that he will be the Father of nations (cf Heb 6:13-14 which says God swore by Himself because there was no-one greater).
So what are we to make of this entity – the Angel of the Lord?
How is it that the stories begin somewhat tamely (a messenger of God) and end with what is obviously an encounter with the Living God?
The stories have a similar pattern.
A person encounters what is initially taken as “just” an angel.
But slowly their eyes are opened and great fear and/or holiness come into play.
There is this unfolding revelation of just Who is being encountered.
And more importantly – the person cries out because they have seen God face-to-face.
The belief being that to see God face-to-face meant death.
In Christian tradition – it is generally held that the Angel of the Lord is the Pre-incarnate Christ.
The Second Person of the Trinity.
There is an especially beautiful account…
Read Gen. 16:7-13
“You are the God Who sees me”.
She then names the spring of water – “the well of the Living One Who sees me” (Gen 16:14).
The Angel of the Lord.
He presences Himself and intervenes throughout the story of God as told in the Old Testament.
He presences Himself in two ways; or rather at two levels.
In the immediate and personal situation of an individual; and for the purpose of continuing to advance His mighty agenda of love and salvation of the world.
“You are the God Who sees me”.
The Angel of the Lord.
How does Hagar’s description sit with you?
How does this aspect of the Angel of the Lord sit with you?
The God Who sees you.
Can you take up Hagar’s declaration too.
“I have seen the One Who sees me”? (Gen 16:13).
You are the God Who sees me!
I have seen the One Who sees me!
As far as the “Angel of the Lord” – is your experience somewhat like those in the Old Testament?
Is your experience like that of Hagar’s?
“I have seen the One Who sees me”?
This week I met with an English pastor who has been here leading a church for the past few years.
I asked him his view about Christian Kiwi’s.
He said he has found that we do not declare things with conviction. That is – we make declarations which are made more out of hope than in faith.
So for example – we say “God loves us”. “God loves me”.
But we say it in such a way that we hope that is the case. But we are not entirely sure. Not truly convinced.
We do not declare in faith!
“I have seen the One Who sees me”.
Do you believe the Angel of the Lord sees you?
Or do you hope the Angel of the Lord sees you?
The Angel of the Lord.
Come the New Testament – we see the Angel of the Lord even more clearly.
And we have a “friend” who guides us as the same thing that happened in the OT (that unfolding revelation of Who He is) takes place.
But now on a much grander scale.
That friend is John.
He tracks the unfolding revelation of Who the Angel of the Lord; of Who Jesus is.
As He writes in the New Testament – we can see over an extended time the unfolding nature of John being confronted with the full experience and understanding of Jesus.
He begins - "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
"No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known." (John 1:18)
In John 4 – there the story is told of Jesus as the spring of Living water.
The spring that Hagar spoke of in a sense:
“the well of the Living One Who sees me”.
Later in John 14, Philip says:
"Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" (John 14:8-9)
Slowly – the realisation is growing.
We see a glimpse in John 18 when He declares His name “I am” and those there to arrest Him draw back and fall to the ground.
Then after the resurrection – he describes that moment when Thomas makes His declaration:
“My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
Then later – in His first letter – John writes:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:1-3)
There he begins to express his wonder that this Man that they had encountered – is in fact the Word of Life.
And eternal life at that!!
He’s arrived then!
He gets it.
He has encountered the “Angel of the Lord” if you will – and has delved into His depths.
So as in the Old Testament, the encounters which begin tame by comparison to the end; from an encounter of an “angel” to the realisation that no! It is God Himself – so here with John – the same thing.
Except – it wasn’t finished.
"I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet," (Revelation 1:9-10, NIV)
"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:12-18)
The ascended and glorified Christ.
Now walking among the churches.
And He still does.
Have you received the full revelation of His might and majesty?
Do you realise the presence of the One Who is among us and over us?
Is John’s vision the end of the matter?
No.
Jesus will come again on the clouds of heaven at the right hand of the Power (Matt 27).
And so today – John’s journey of revelation is a good path to walk.
And Hagar’s experience is a good one to view it all through.
“You are the God Who sees me”.
And we gather at the – “the well of the Living One Who sees me”.
We gather in worship – He is among us; for us and against us.
He is almighty and powerful.
May our understanding of Him; and revelation of Him deepen and grow.
May we truly see Him as He is – and may we serve Him accordingly.
Presented By: Rev G New