Judges 2:1-5 – The Angel of the LORD
As chapter two of Judges begins, we are introduced to the “Angel of the LORD.” The Hebrew word translated as “angel” means “messenger,” and, therefore, could refer to a prophet or a heavenly angel. However, “Angel of the LORD” is used to indicate that God, Himself, is appearing as His own messenger. This is the first of three times this will happen in Judges (see chapters 6 and 13), and because we know that no one has seen God the Father, but it is the Son who makes Him known (John 1:18), we understand these to be a pre-incarnate appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ – when the Son of God appeared on earth before the time when He took on human nature and was born as one of us, Jesus of Nazareth.
Our understanding that this Angel of the LORD is God, Himself, is reinforced by the fact that He accepts the sacrifices offered to the LORD. In chapter six, He will receive Gideon’s sacrifice and in chapter thirteen He will ascend in the smoke of Manoah’s sacrifice. Manoah’s words to his wife on that occasion will be, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”
When God appears in some way that men and women can see it is called a “theophany.” Theophanies include events like the Burning Bush, the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire. When God appears as a Man in the Old Testament, we call this a “christophany” – a pre-incarnate appearing of Jesus Christ.
Questions
- What is a theophany?
- Who is the Angel of the LORD?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks to God for coming to us in the Person of Jesus Christ.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.