God has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind, starting at the very beginning. We read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." God reveals Himself as creator, in the very beginning. If God was there to create all of this, then who created God? If something greater than God created God first, then God ceases to be God.
The Hebrew word for God in Gen 1:1 is translated Elohim. The interesting thing about this word for God is that is is in the plural. This does not necessarily mean multiple Gods were there to create the world. In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read that the "LORD is our God, the LORD is one." The word one carries the meaning of first, standing alone, and also that of unity. So we can say that the LORD God alone is God. There is no other God beside Him (Exodus 20:3). LORD is a translation of the word JEHOVAH meaning the eternal always existing one. So we see that God has always existed from eternity past. There was no one else who created Him. But what about the plurality hinted at by the title Elohim?
If we read a little farther in the account of creation we come to an interesting verse. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping that creeps upon the earth. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Gen 1:26-27). Here God reveals a little more to us.
The plurality of God comes out in this verse. God says, "Let us" and, "Our image". If there is only one God, and no other, and He alone created the universe, what does this mean? Then we read that God created man in His image, in the image of God he created Them.
We see both plural and singular in these verses, referring to God, and also to the man He created, giving a hint of the unity of God, and also that of man. Just as mankind is a singular being yet made up of many, God also is a singular being, yet composed of a plurality. We see that man was created, a male and female, and in the image and likeness of God. People have contemplated what is meant by the image and likeness of God. Obviously we were not created to be God, we are not divine, but we have a body, soul, and spirit. We have been created with an intelligence, to reason, moral beings with the ability to make choices. We have within us a spirit that departs when this body wears out and passes away. God Himself has breathed into us the breath of life (Gen 2:7).
John tell us that God is spirit (John 4:24), but what about a body? He also writes that no man has seen God (John 1:18, 6:46). Does the Old Testament record any instances of God appearing to men in a body? And if so, how do we reconcile this?
Lets take a look at the life of Abraham, as there are several times that the LORD appeared to him recorded in the book of Genesis. Genesis 17:1 When he was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and established a covenant with him. In Genesis 18:1 the LORD appears again with two other men (angels). He comes to tell Abraham that Sarah his wife would bear him a son a year from now. The chapter goes on to tell of God's displeasure with Sodom and Gomorrah, and its coming destruction. Genesis 18:22, the two men leave and go towards Sodom while Abraham is left standing before the LORD. In this section of scripture we read of Abraham's interceding for Sodom, where his nephew Lot had settled (Gen 18:23-33). Abraham is standing face to face with the LORD talking to Him. He knows who He is as he calls Him LORD several times.
The chapter ends with the LORD departing, and then we have the events of Chapter 19 dealing with Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels go to get Lot and his family out before the city is destroyed. We get to the point where the angels are leading Lot out, and he protests saying the mountains are too far away. He looks at a small town and asks if he can flee there. up until now we see the two angels mentioned. Now the LORD suddenly speaks to Lot. "Hurry escape there, for I can not do anything until you arrive there." (Gen 19:22). Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven (Gen 19:24).
That is an amazing passage of scripture. You have the LORD telling Lot That He cannot do anything until Lot is safe in Zoar. Next we see The LORD (on the earth) raining down fire and brimstone from the LORD (in heaven). This is JEHOVAH in both places. Once again a hint at plurality within the being of God. Again to be clear, I am not saying there are two Gods, or three Gods. The scriptures are clear that the LORD God is one, and I firmly believe that. Yet here we see The LORD on earth at the same time the LORD is in heaven.
Jacob wrestled with a man until daybreak and would not let him go until he was blessed.(Gen 32:2-29). Listen to what Jacob says next, So Jacob named the place Peniel for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved (Gen 32:30).
The angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2). Immediately we are told that this is God. When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush (Exodus 3:4). The chapter goes on to record God's call to Moses, referring to the being in the burning bush as God in several places. When Moses asks God who sent Him, The angel of the LORD replies I Am who I Am (Exodus 3:14-15). It is here that we are first introduced to the sacred name of God, YAHWEH, also translated JEHOVAH, which we have already established that it means the eternal one. Exodus 33:11 records that God spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:11-22, and to Sampson's parents in Judges 13:2-23. In both instances Gideon, and Manoah and his wife understood that they had seen God (Judges 6:22, 13:22). In fact, When asked by Manoah what His name was, The angel of the LORD replied, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?" (Judges 13:18) Compare this with Isaiah's messianic prophecy.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
This prophecy we find fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This adds and interesting element to the concept of the angel of the LORD. John tells us, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (John 1:1-2). This is the beginning of John's gospel where he sets the foundation of who Jesus is, the eternal Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). He is the only begotten of the Father, sent by the Father, yet divine as the Father is divine. This explains the creation account where we see the plurality in Genesis 1:26-27. Jesus was there as God, with God. Colossians 1:13-16 also tell us that the Son of God is the image of the invisible God, and all things have been created by Him, and for Him. So was the angel of the LORD as found in the OLD Testament the preincarnate Christ?
John said no man has seen God at any time, yet the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father has explained Him (John 1:18). Jesus stated to His disciples in John 14:7-11 that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father. He speaks of a unity I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Yet we also see that the Father is speaking from Heaven, while Jesus was on the earth (Matt 3:16-17, 17:1-5). This is in keeping with what we saw in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah.
This is only scratching the surface, and I will post more on this. I would also like to take a look at the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit) in a future post as well.
If we read a little farther in the account of creation we come to an interesting verse. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping that creeps upon the earth. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Gen 1:26-27). Here God reveals a little more to us.
The plurality of God comes out in this verse. God says, "Let us" and, "Our image". If there is only one God, and no other, and He alone created the universe, what does this mean? Then we read that God created man in His image, in the image of God he created Them.
We see both plural and singular in these verses, referring to God, and also to the man He created, giving a hint of the unity of God, and also that of man. Just as mankind is a singular being yet made up of many, God also is a singular being, yet composed of a plurality. We see that man was created, a male and female, and in the image and likeness of God. People have contemplated what is meant by the image and likeness of God. Obviously we were not created to be God, we are not divine, but we have a body, soul, and spirit. We have been created with an intelligence, to reason, moral beings with the ability to make choices. We have within us a spirit that departs when this body wears out and passes away. God Himself has breathed into us the breath of life (Gen 2:7).
John tell us that God is spirit (John 4:24), but what about a body? He also writes that no man has seen God (John 1:18, 6:46). Does the Old Testament record any instances of God appearing to men in a body? And if so, how do we reconcile this?
Lets take a look at the life of Abraham, as there are several times that the LORD appeared to him recorded in the book of Genesis. Genesis 17:1 When he was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and established a covenant with him. In Genesis 18:1 the LORD appears again with two other men (angels). He comes to tell Abraham that Sarah his wife would bear him a son a year from now. The chapter goes on to tell of God's displeasure with Sodom and Gomorrah, and its coming destruction. Genesis 18:22, the two men leave and go towards Sodom while Abraham is left standing before the LORD. In this section of scripture we read of Abraham's interceding for Sodom, where his nephew Lot had settled (Gen 18:23-33). Abraham is standing face to face with the LORD talking to Him. He knows who He is as he calls Him LORD several times.
The chapter ends with the LORD departing, and then we have the events of Chapter 19 dealing with Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels go to get Lot and his family out before the city is destroyed. We get to the point where the angels are leading Lot out, and he protests saying the mountains are too far away. He looks at a small town and asks if he can flee there. up until now we see the two angels mentioned. Now the LORD suddenly speaks to Lot. "Hurry escape there, for I can not do anything until you arrive there." (Gen 19:22). Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven (Gen 19:24).
That is an amazing passage of scripture. You have the LORD telling Lot That He cannot do anything until Lot is safe in Zoar. Next we see The LORD (on the earth) raining down fire and brimstone from the LORD (in heaven). This is JEHOVAH in both places. Once again a hint at plurality within the being of God. Again to be clear, I am not saying there are two Gods, or three Gods. The scriptures are clear that the LORD God is one, and I firmly believe that. Yet here we see The LORD on earth at the same time the LORD is in heaven.
Jacob wrestled with a man until daybreak and would not let him go until he was blessed.(Gen 32:2-29). Listen to what Jacob says next, So Jacob named the place Peniel for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved (Gen 32:30).
The angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2). Immediately we are told that this is God. When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush (Exodus 3:4). The chapter goes on to record God's call to Moses, referring to the being in the burning bush as God in several places. When Moses asks God who sent Him, The angel of the LORD replies I Am who I Am (Exodus 3:14-15). It is here that we are first introduced to the sacred name of God, YAHWEH, also translated JEHOVAH, which we have already established that it means the eternal one. Exodus 33:11 records that God spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:11-22, and to Sampson's parents in Judges 13:2-23. In both instances Gideon, and Manoah and his wife understood that they had seen God (Judges 6:22, 13:22). In fact, When asked by Manoah what His name was, The angel of the LORD replied, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?" (Judges 13:18) Compare this with Isaiah's messianic prophecy.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
This prophecy we find fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This adds and interesting element to the concept of the angel of the LORD. John tells us, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (John 1:1-2). This is the beginning of John's gospel where he sets the foundation of who Jesus is, the eternal Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). He is the only begotten of the Father, sent by the Father, yet divine as the Father is divine. This explains the creation account where we see the plurality in Genesis 1:26-27. Jesus was there as God, with God. Colossians 1:13-16 also tell us that the Son of God is the image of the invisible God, and all things have been created by Him, and for Him. So was the angel of the LORD as found in the OLD Testament the preincarnate Christ?
John said no man has seen God at any time, yet the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father has explained Him (John 1:18). Jesus stated to His disciples in John 14:7-11 that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father. He speaks of a unity I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Yet we also see that the Father is speaking from Heaven, while Jesus was on the earth (Matt 3:16-17, 17:1-5). This is in keeping with what we saw in the account of Sodom and Gomorrah.
This is only scratching the surface, and I will post more on this. I would also like to take a look at the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit) in a future post as well.
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