The Pre-incarnate Christ- Jesus in the Old Testament

What is a Christophany

A “Christophany” is an appearance or manifestation of the preincarnate Christ particularly in the Old Testament

This is a meaning strictly in terms of the second person of the Trinity

The Angel of The Lord

Many believe the principal Christophany/theophany of the Old Testament is the Angel of The LORD or more literally, the Angel of Yahweh.

Genesis 16:10 “Then the Angel of the Lord said to her(Sarah), “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.””

It is said that this is a primary manifestation of the Lord Jesus among the people who lived before His Incarnation...

3 Arguments

The idea that the Angel of Yahweh was the preincarnate Christ is based on three main lines of argumentation:

(1) This Angel is identified as being Yahweh (God);

Exodus 3:1–3 “Now Moses was tending 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. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.””

Pay attention to the text

Exodus 3:4 “So 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.””

Moses afraid because He saw God

Upon hearing the Angel’s identity, “Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God” (v. 6b).

Exodus 3:6 “Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.”

Samsons’ parents were also afraid

Judges 13:3 “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.”

Once again The Angel of The Lord appears to Samson’s parents

Judges 13:8 “Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.””

“Let the man of God” Human form?

Samsons father knew this was God

Judges 13:21–22 “When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!””

Lets look at the 2nd Argument

The Angel of the Lord receives worship

Joshua 5:13–15 “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

NOTE: No where in the bible does an angel receive worship Ex. Apostle John and the angel

Revelation 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.””

Joshua worshipped because he knew He saw God the 2nd person of Tri-une Godhead. The Lord Jesus Christ before His incarnation

The angel of The Lord wrestles with Jacob

Genesis 32:24 “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.”

“A man wrestled with Jacob”. Here the verse is implying being able to wrestle this man physically.

The Angel has authority to change Jacobs name

Genesis 32:27–28 “So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.””

Jacob names the place of this event

Genesis 32:30 “So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.””

Also during the time of the prophet Daniel Jesus was in the fire“One as the Son of man”

Daniel 3:16–17 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”

The 3 Hebrew Prophets directly tell the king of Babylon God will deliver them

And He does Daniel 3:25 ““Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.””

In conclusion

Jesus Christ is before creation

He is The Word that was in the beginning

He was a major part in the history of the nation of Israel

He is The Head of His Church

And right now He is doing a powerful work in your lives