Angels, 15of27

~ Angel of The Lord ~  

Angel of The Lord  ~  There are many references to “an angel of the Lord” as well as “the angel of the Lord” in Scripture.  The implication is that there are both multiple angels of the Lord as well as a specific angel of the Lord.  Angels of the Lord are not only identified with God they often speak as God and exercise responsibilities of God (see the “Theophanies” section below). 

“An” Angel of The Lord  ~  “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.  But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life’” (Acts 5:17-20).  There are a number of other examples of “an” angel of the Lord. 

“The” Angel of The Lord  ~  Here is one example: “Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.  And He said, ‘Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?’  She said, ‘I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.’  The Angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.’  Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, ‘I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.’  And the Angel of the Lord said to her: ‘Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son.  You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction.  He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him.  And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren’” (Genesis 16:7-12).  There are many other examples of “the” angel of the Lord.

Theophanies  ~  It is interesting to note that even though angels are mentioned numerous times in the New Testament, “the” angel of the Lord is not mentioned in Scripture post the birth of Jesus Christ—rather it is always “an” angel of the Lord. 

It seems probable that in at least some of these appearances of the angel of the Lord it was a theophany (an appearance of God, the Father in physical form).  Consider for example: “Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord.  So Gideon said, ‘Alas, O Lord God!  For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.’  Then the Lord said to him, ‘Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.’  So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace.  To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites” (Judges 6:22-24).

Remember that Jesus Christ was before Abraham (John 8:58), is eternal, is the Creator and sustainer of all (Colossians 1:16).  Some or all of these occurrences may have actually been a Christophany (physical appearing of Christ) before His incarnation.

Conclusion  ~  It is quite possible that appearances of “The Angel of The Lord” were physical appearances of either God, the Father or the Son of God—Jesus Christ. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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