Angel of the Lord
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· 1 viewA title given to those angelic servants of God who are given specific tasks in furthering God’s purposes among humanity. These tasks include the giving of revelations, guidance, encouragement, warnings and the execution of judgment on those who oppose God’s purposes.
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The status of the angel of the Lord
The status of the angel of the Lord
He is identified with the Lord
He is identified with the Lord
Ex 3:2–6 The angel of the Lord here speaks for God and is recognised as God and as a messenger from God. This may indicate that the angel speaks on God’s behalf (compare with the role of the prophets) or, as some believe, this may be a manifestation of the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ.
See also Ge 16:7; Ge 16:13; Ge 31:11–13; Jdg 2:1–2; Jdg 6:11–12; Jdg 6:14; Jdg 13:19–22; Zec 3:1–2
He is distinguished from the Lord
He is distinguished from the Lord
But when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented concerning the evil, and said to the angel who was bringing destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
See also Zec 1:12–13; Lk 1:19; Heb 1:4
The angel of the Lord is active in various ways
The angel of the Lord is active in various ways
He calls and speaks
He calls and speaks
Ge 16:7–8; Ge 21:17; Ge 22:11; Ge 22:15; 2 Ki 1:3; 2 Ki 1:15
He has physical contact with people
He has physical contact with people
1 Ki 19:5; 1 Ki 19:7; Ac 12:7
He appears in human likeness
He appears in human likeness
Ge 18:2; Ge 18:16; Ge 18:22; Ge 19:1; Jdg 6:11–12; Ac 27:23
He appears in supernatural form, often evoking fear
He appears in supernatural form, often evoking fear
Ex 3:2; Nu 22:22–24; Nu 22:31; 1 Ch 21:16; Lk 1:11–12; Lk 2:9
He appears in dreams and visions
He appears in dreams and visions
Ge 31:11; Zec 1:8; Zec 1:11; Zec 3:1; Zec 3:5; Mt 2:13; Mt 2:19; Ac 10:3
Functions of the angel of the Lord
Functions of the angel of the Lord
He reveals information, often about forthcoming births
He reveals information, often about forthcoming births
And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Although you are barren, having borne no children, you shall conceive and bear a son.
See also Mt 1:20; Lk 1:11; Lk 1:13
He gives guidance and instruction
He gives guidance and instruction
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.)
See also Ge 16:9; Ge 22:11–12; Ge 24:7; Ge 24:40; Ex 23:23; Nu 22:35
He comforts those in need
He comforts those in need
And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
See also 1 Ki 19:5–7; Ac 27:23–25
He affirms promises and gives blessing
He affirms promises and gives blessing
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”
See also Lk 1:26–28; Lk 1:30–33; Lk 2:10–11
He leads, delivers and protects Israel
He leads, delivers and protects Israel
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
See also Ex 14:19; Is 63:9
He rebukes sinful Israel
He rebukes sinful Israel
Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, “I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you into the land that I had promised to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you. For your part, do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my command. See what you have done! So now I say, I will not drive them out before you; but they shall become adversaries to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept.
He rolls back the tombstone
He rolls back the tombstone
And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
He rescues those in prison
He rescues those in prison
Ac 5:19; Ac 12:8–9
He executes judgment on sin
He executes judgment on sin
And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
See also 2 Sa 24:15–16; 2 Ki 19:35; Ps 35:4–6