In Genesis 16:7-13 and in other places of Scripture, there is a character we encounter called the angel of the LORD. In every appearance of this character, he doesn’t appear to be just an angel. He appears as a unique angel and distinctively differentiated from all other angels as the Angel of the LORD.
In the Old Testament we run across a mysterious “being” in numerous places who is most often called “The Angel of [the LORD].” He is a mysterious “being” because He is like no other angel we meet in the Old Testament¹
Who then is this “the Angel of the LORD”? There are three interpretative approaches in identifying this character as he appears in Scripture.² Firstly, the Angel of the LORD is a created angel who serves God and hence accepts divine title, worship etc. So when he shows up, he acts like God. But he is not God. He is only a representative of God. The second view is that he is a divine person; a theophany. He is, in fact, God The Father taking on human form. The third school of thought asserts that the Angel of the LORD is the pre-incarnate Christ; his appearances in the Old Testament; a Christophany. The third hypothesis is strong and points to the fact that the Angel of the LORD is pre-incarnate Christ.
In this article, I will argue from Genesis 16:7-13 that the angel of the LORD is indeed the pre-incarnate Christ.
The Angel of The LORD Spoke On His Own Authority
The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” (v.10).
Here is a striking truth about the Angel of the LORD when he appeared to Hagar. He spoke on His own authority. He didn’t speak as One who has been sent. Often in Scriptures, when angels are sent by God with a message, they identify themselves firstly as sent by God. But this Angel of the LORD said things that only God can say. He gave a promise “I will surely multiply your offspring.”
The Angel of The LORD is Distinct From the LORD
The description “the Angel of the LORD” makes a distinction between this Angel and Jehovah. The word LORD in all capitals is a distinct way bible translators identify the proper name of God. In the Hebrew, it is the sacred name of God; Yhwh (Yahweh) or Jehovah. It is by this name God identified himself to Moses in the burning bush. In the narrative, we see the Angel of the LORD as a being sent by the LORD yet He speaks as one with authority in himself. Also, when he speaks, he distinguishes himself from the LORD.
And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction (v.11)
Though in verse 10, the angel of the LORD has spoken authoritatively, he here identifies the LORD as a separate being from himself. He tells Hagar “because the LORD has listened to your affliction.” Not because “I have listened to your affliction.”
The Angel of The LORD Is God
In the previous point, I pointed out how the Angel of the LORD is distinct from the LORD. Now though, he is distinct from the LORD, the Angel of the LORD is divine. In fact, he is identified as God. After Hagar’s encounter with him, her reaction gives us insight into who this character is: “So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” (v.13).
Note what is happening here. In verse 10, it was the Angel of the LORD who spoke to Hagar. Then after the encounter, Scripture identifies the Angel of the LORD as LORD: “So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her” (v.13a). This hints us the Scriptures upholds this character as LORD, though distinct from the LORD. Further, Hagar identifies this character as God and assigned divine attributes to him. Rightly then, this character is equally God.
More clearly, in the second appearance of the Angel of the LORD in Genesis 21:17-20, we see a profound light of who he is.
17 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? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow.
In verse 17, we see two distinct beings: God and the angel of God. God heard the voice of the boy, then the Angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. Then in verse 18, the Angel of God again spoke on his own authority and makes a promise to Hagar: “for I will make him into a great nation.” These words are divine words spoken by the Angel of God. This angel is distinct from the God who heard the voice of the boy, yet he is God because he makes promises only God can make.
These distinct appearances of God and the Angel of the LORD who also bears divine attributes points us to glimpses of the doctrine of the Trinity. The appearances of the angel of the LORD is not limited only to Genesis 16:7-13. In Genesis 18, Exodus 3; 23:20-23; Judges 13:13-23 we see appearances of the angel of the LORD and in ways that depicts him as God and yet distinct from the LORD.
The conclusion then is that the angel of the LORD is the second person of the Trinity; Jesus Christ in his pre-incarnate appearance or what is called a Christophany.
The most common designation that identifies a Christophany is “the Angel of the Lord.” This title is also the most instructive concerning the nature of the divine manifestation. The reference to the Angel of the Lord does not occur in every Christophany, but it is safe to say the Angel of the Lord always refers to Christ³
Notes
- “What Is a Christophany?”, http://www.christology101.com/the-person-of-christ/what-is-a-christophany/
- Who or What Is The Angel Of The Lord, Compelling Truthhttps://www.compellingtruth.org/angel-of-the-lord.html
- Michael P.V. Barrett, Beginning At Moses: A Guide To Finding Christ In The Old Testament ( Greenville, Ambassador Books, 2001) Kindle
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