I’ve read that Moses and the burning bush is a prime example of a theophany (a visible, physical manifestation or appearance of God to humans). What other theophanies do we see in the OT and why are they significant?
One theophany that has always stood out to me is when God appeared to Elijah, not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11–13).
I find that significant because it contrasts with some of the more dramatic manifestations of God in the Old Testament. Sometimes God revealed Himself through overwhelming power and glory, and other times through quietness and presence.
Another fascinating one is Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32. That story feels deeply symbolic of struggle, persistence, and transformation.
What I also find interesting about the burning bush itself is that the bush was burning yet not consumed. Many people see symbolism there too — God’s holiness and power present without destroying what He was calling and using.
Abraham:
Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.” (Genesis 18:1–3)
Jacob:
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. . . . And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Genesis 32:24–25, 28–30)
Many theologians refer to the appearances of God in these passages, and others like them, as “theophanies” (Greek: theos = “God” + phaino = “appear”) or “Christophanies.” So these words mean “appearances of God” and “appearances of Christ,” respectively.
The Old Testament also mentions “the Angel of the Lord”1 on several occasions. For example, this “Angel” appeared to Manoah’s wife to tell her that she would give birth to Samson.
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”
So the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name. (Judges 13:3–6)
It’s confusing to me because it seems to undermine the uniqueness and importance of Jesus being God incarnate.
Christians generally agree that the above passages and many others that mention “the Angel of the Lord” are appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ (Christ before He came in the flesh).2 Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics of this “Angel” as given in the various passages.
The “Angel” is referred to with masculine pronouns (Genesis 16:13; Judges 6:21).
He is identified as God (Judges 6:11, 14; Zechariah 12:8).3
He performed miracles (Judges 6:21; 13:20).
Gideon and Manoah thought they would die because they saw the “Angel” face to face (Judges 6:22; 13:22).
The “Angel” accurately foretold future events (Judges 13:3).
His name is “wonderful” (Judges 13:18; cf., Isaiah 9:6).
He destroyed 185,000 soldiers of the Assyrian army in one night (2 Kings 19:35).4
While angels have occasionally performed some of these actions, such as miracles and prophecy, there are clear examples when “the Angel of the Lord” cannot be viewed as a normal angel. He is occasionally identified as God, accepted worship, and at least two people who saw Him thought they would die for seeing Him face to face. These same attributes and activities are clearly attributed to God elsewhere in Scripture.
There are a few other statements to consider. In Zechariah 3:1–2, “the Angel of the Lord” is distinguished from Yahweh because He talks to Yahweh. John 1:18 states, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” So man has only seen the Son of God, not the Father or the Holy Spirit. Also, the “Commander of the army of the Lord” (Joshua 5:14) is likely the same individual as “the Angel of the Lord.” Joshua saw this “Commander” holding a sword, and He accepted Joshua’s worship, something the holy angels refuse to do (Revelation 19:10, 22:8–9). Finally, “the Angel of the Lord” does not make any appearances after the birth of Christ in the New Testament, although the risen Jesus did appear to Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–6; 22:6–10; 26:14–19; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8).
These truths have led many students of Scripture to conclude that “the Angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament is none other than Christ Himself. He is called God, given attributes of God, seen by people, worshiped, and distinguished from the Father and Spirit. So rather than undermining the uniqueness and importance of Christ, theophanies affirm the uniqueness of Jesus. They also show the intimacy of God with His creation, unlike the distant god of deism that some people incorrectly associate with the God of the Bible.
Besides making for an interesting Bible study, the appearances of Christ in the Old Testament confirm the fact that He existed prior to the Incarnation, just as He plainly stated: “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). The fact that Jesus is the Creator also demonstrates His existence prior to His first advent (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16).
Theophanies in the Old Testament | Answers in Genesis).
Excellent article.
J.