I've posted on this before, but it still puzzles me. I've been reading, again, Judges chapter 6, specifically starting in verse 11. Here's what is so puzzling:

The angel of the Lord appears and has a conversation with Gideon. Then, in verse 21, the angel of the Lord causes Gideon's offering to be burned up and the angel disappears also. After that, Gideon continues to have a conversation with the Lord.

Now, the question is: Is the angel of the Lord simply an angel, or is it the Lord in the flesh? At first, I thought that the angel left, and then when the conversation with the Lord continued, then that meant there were 3 people in the conversation: Gideon, the angel and the Lord. But, verse 14 is where I get confused. The verse says that "the Lord looked upon Gideon," or another version reads, "the Lord turned to Gideon." That indicates that the Lord was there in the flesh, but was He the angel or was there another fleshly being?

Here's an additional thought: In verse 11, the Bible says "AN angel of the Lord," then in verse 12 it says, "THE angel of the Lord." (emphasis added of course) Were there two different angels? Maybe I'm just reading too much into it?

Please comment any thoughts you have that may shed light on this passage for me.

Have a blessed day!