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!
From: Alabama, United States
About me: I am a Christian wife, and mother of two great homeschooled children. We would like to adopt and I love to write.
- Psalm 119:11
- Philippians 1:3
- Philippians 4:13
- Matthew 5:44-45
- Micah 6:8
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A puzzling chapter
posted by Dawn at 8:56 AM
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2 Comments:
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At October 8, 2008 at 11:15 AM,
DawnWhat a great word to use to describe it! Tantalizing...I love that.
I think you are right too...the evidence is there, but not quite concrete enough to say for sure.
Thanks for the I Corinthians verse, I wasn't aware of that one in connection with this study. That's food for thought.
Yes, I would appreciate a list of anytime you think the Lord appeared in at least an appearance of the flesh. Thanks!
I know of a few...Abraham's conversation before Sodom and Gomorra is another interesting one.
Blessings!
We have tantalizing evidence that the Lord occasionally showed up in the OT. The problem is that we cannot definitely say that it was Him. If it is the Lord, I don't think that He was "in the flesh" anymore than the angels were "in the flesh." Remember that it wasn't until the incarnation that John said that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among men. Yet, Paul says that the Israelites drank from the same rock after their baptism in the cloud and the sea, that the rock followed them, and that the rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). So, personally, I think Jesus did indeed show up from time to time in the OT. But, He was not present but in the spirit or in the same manner as the angels that likewise appeared to have bodily form. Give me a little time and I'll send you a list of occasions when I think Jesus may have shown up in the OT.