Page 21 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

One of the most often used phrases to identify a theophany is “the angel of the LORD.” A distinction is
made between the angel of the LORD and an angel of the LORD. The first is special. The second is the
more usual variety of heavenly created beings. Often when the angel of the Lord appears, people
identify him as God in some way. For example, they fear for their lives because they have seen God
(Judg. 13:22). References to the angel of the Lord can be found throughout the Old Testament (Gen.
16:7-13; 21:17; 22:11-18; 24:7, 40; 31:11; 32:24-32; 48:15-16; Exod. 3:2; 13:21; 14:19; 23;20-23; 32:34;
33:2; Num. 20:16; 22:22-35; Judg. 2:1-4; 5:23; 6:11-24; 13:3-23; 2 Sam. 14:17-20; 19:27; 24:14-17; 1
Kings 19:5-7; 2 Kings1:3, 15; 19:35; 1 Chron. 21;11-20; Ps. 34:7; 35:5-6; Eccl. 5:6; Isa. 37:36; 63;9; Zech.
1;9-21; 2:3; 3:1-20; 4:1-7; 5:5-10; 6:4-5; 12:8).

The Son of God appears at other times and is identified with other descriptions. He meets with the
elders of Israel on top of Mount Sinai (Exod. 24:9-11). He is in the pillar of cloud that descended on the
tent of meeting to “speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend (33:11). He is the
“commander of the LORD’s army who talks to Joshua before the battle of Jericho (Josh. 5:13-15). He is
seen by Isaiah, “seated on a throne, high and exalted (Isa. 6:1; John 12:41).” He is the One seen by
Ezekiel, “a figure like that of a man” and “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD (Ezek.
1:26, 28).”
Fig. 12: Shield of Trinity
“The combined testimony of these passages portrays the Son of
God as exceedingly active in the Old Testament, dealing with sin,
providing for those in need, guiding in the path of the will of
God, protecting His people from their enemies and, in general,
executing the providence of God. The references make plain
that this ministry is not occasional or exceptional but rather the
common and continual ministry of God to His people.” Here
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already people knew God as a “socially related being within
himself,” loving one another, supporting one another, assisting
one another, teaming with one another, honoring one another,
communicating with one another, and in everything respecting
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and enjoying one another.

Adam has already experienced the joy of a relationship with Eve,
quite different from the animals. They have had opportunity to
observe and converse with one another about the colors of a sunset, the particular nature of a horse in
contrast to a dog, and their own understanding of God. They understand what it means to be a person
through interaction with one another. New to each other, they have been learning with each passing
day.

As they grow in their knowledge of one another, they would also grow in their knowledge of God. The
basics of human life are not so different for us today, even if we do not live in the Garden of Eden. On
some of those walks through the garden with Him, a variety of topics would be discussed. In simple
interaction with their Creator, they would know something of His sufficiency, His power, His knowledge,
and his love. They are interacting with the Son of God in human flesh. He is an accurate representation

22 John F. Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord (Chicago: Moody Press, 1969), p. 53.
23 Bruce Ware, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Wheaton: Crossway, 2005), p. 20.

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