THE THEOLOGY OF YAHWEH: God In Three Persons (Part 2)

The Old Testament Roots of Trinitarian Theology

The Angel of The LORD / The Angel of Yahweh

The Angel of the LORD is first identified in Genesis 16. This is part of Abraham’s story. At this time in his life his name is Abram and his wife Sarah is called Sari. In this chapter we find a woman named Hagar. Hagar was an Egyptian slave which had been given to Sari as a servant. When Sari found she could not conceive, she gave Hagar to Abram as a wife. When Hagar conceives, she despises Sari. Sari in turns mistreats her so Hagar runs away. It is at this point the angel of the LORD finds her by a fountain of water in the wilderness. I encourage you to read this in Genesis 16:7-13. There is a lot of very interesting information is these few verses.

Genesis 16:13:

So (Hagar) she called the name of the LORD (Yahweh) who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”

This same Angel of the LORD relates to Hagar and her son a second time in Genesis 21 when Abraham sends them away. This was after Sarah conceives and bears Isaac. This time Sarah is irate that Hagar’s son is mocking Isaac. Sarah demanded that Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham is grieved at this, but God speaks to Abraham and assures him that Ishmael will also become a great nation. As the story follows Hagar and the boy, it seems that both them will die of thirst. Hagar puts the boy under the only shade available and leaves him there. But look what happens next. This is Genesis 21:17-18

And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

Though we do see the Angel speaking in the first person as Yahweh, it is not conclusive that it he is anything more than a messenger of Yahweh. If we keep reading we come to Genesis 22. Here we have the account of God testing Abraham. Once again we will read about the Angel of Yahweh. Let’s begin with verses 1-8.

Genesis 22:1-8, 11-12, 14-17

“After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 

I want to comment on this part of the story of Abraham. It seems shocking, alarming and inconceivable to us that God would even say this to Abraham. But this narrative begins by saying “God tested Abraham.” I want to point out that Abraham recognized the one who spoke and instructed him as Yahweh. He didn’t question, He didn’t delay. He isn’t even shocked.

How could this be? We have enough understanding of the character and nature of Elohim Yahweh to say,”He would never do this!” And we would be right in doing so. But at this point in the story line, none of that is clear. Abraham came from a land of idol worshipers where the “gods” regularly required a worshiper to sacrifice their child. God is testing Abraham to see if he will be as loyal to Him, as others were to their gods. The shocking part of this story from Abraham's perspective is the Yahweh would stop him. Not only did Yahweh stop him, He also provided a ram for the sacrifice. Yahweh is truly separate and apart from all other gods.

4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together…

11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

As you look at the text in your Bible you will notice that the translators capitalize God/Elohim to indicate they believe this to be Yahweh speaking. But we should also take note that when the angel of the LORD spoke, Abraham is not confused about who is speaking to him. Abraham answers “Here I am.” Again, He recognizes the voice as being Yahweh, the One with whom he made covenant. He did not fear it was the voice of another elohim; a strange god. He did not ask,“Who are you?”

At this point Abraham sees the ram and offers it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham dedicates that place by name, calling it “Yahweh Yireh” interpreted to mean Yahweh will provide.

14 Abraham named that place Yahweh Yireh. It is still said today, “On the mountain of Yahweh it will be provided.” 15 And the Angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time from heaven. 16 And he said, “I swear by Myself, declares Yahweh, that because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only child, 17 that I will certainly bless you and greatly multiply your offspring…

It is interesting to notice that in verse 16 the writer has the angel preface his words with “declares Yahweh.” While in verse 11, there is no such clarification. The wording of the text is blurs the distinction between Yahweh and the angel by swapping the angel into the role of the person who initially demanded the sacrifice as a test—Yahweh himself.

Once again, it is clear that the Biblical writer had the ability to make sure Yahweh and the angel were distinguished but did not do so. This same failure occurs in several other places in the Old Testament. Then again, maybe it is not a failure at all. It is reasonable to consider that this was not a careless oversight, but rather the wording is designed to blur the two persons, because Yahweh is communicating something about Himself.

The God of Isaac and Jacob

I am including the identification of The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is this section because as Christians we identify our covenant and our God as being the same God that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshiped.

“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus…” Acts 3:13

“Those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Galatians 3:9

“If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:29

We looked at how Abraham experienced and knew God (Yahweh). Now let’s look at how Isaac and Jacob experienced and knew the God of Abraham.  It is one thing to say, that our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but do we understand how they knew him, how they identified him?  Can you defend and articulate it with the scripture? We need to look at the scriptural content of Isaac and Jacob’s experience and knowledge of God.

Yahweh’s first visible appearance to Isaac

We are still in the Book of Beginnings. Abraham has died, Isaac and Ishmael buried him. We will pick the story up in chapter 26, for it is here that we have the first written account of when Yahweh appearing unto Isaac. There is a famine in the land and Isaac is evidently headed toward Egypt, like his father had done. Let’s read.

Genesis 26:2-3

2 Yahweh appeared (Hebrew word H7200 the verb tense is Niphal meaning to present oneself, to be visible) to Isaac and said, “Don’t go to Egypt. Stay where I tell you. 3 Live here in this land for a while, and I will be with you and bless you. I will give all these lands to you and your descendants. I will keep the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.

This is clearly the same God (Elohim) that had appeared to Abraham, for he quotes the words of the covenant. Later it is written that Yahweh appeared to a second time. This is found in the same chapter verses 23-25. It is at this time Isaac actually builds an alter unto this Elohim.

Genesis 26:23-25 “From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD (Yahweh) appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God (Elohim) of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.” 25 So Isaac built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD (Yahweh).

Yahweh Appears to Jacob

Isaac’s son Jacob also receives the same divine approval in a series of visual encounters with Yahweh. The first instance is the well-known story of “Jacob’s ladder.” While this is a familiar story to many, I encourage you to read the whole account. We can then spotlight a few of the passages connected to this subject. We will pick up the story in chapter 28 where Jacob is sent to Padan-aram better known as Haran, the place from which Abraham had departed from. He is being sent to take a wife. But Jacob is really running from Esau who has sworn to kill him because of the birthright which Jacob stole by deception.

Read Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob’s night vision:

Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD (Yahweh)  stood above it and said, “I am the LORD (Yahweh), the God (Elohim) of Abraham your father and the God (Elohim) of Isaac. 

Many Bible historians believe this was a stair-step structure which the ancient world believed connected heaven and earth (man’s attempt to get back to Eden his own way). The visible Yahweh is standing above it; this can also be translated beside it or even beside him (referring to Jacob). The Holman Christian Standard Bible actually translates it this way.

13 Yahweh was standing there beside him, saying, “I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

After this we read (verses 18-22) Jacob set’s up a pillar declaring that if God keeps his oath and he returns to his father’s house in peace then the LORD (Yahweh) shall be his God (Elohim), and the pillar shall be God’s house and he would give the tithe.

Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. 

Remember this, Jacob changed the name of this location from Luz to Beth-el which translates to House of God. He does this as a memorial to Yahweh who talked with him and restated the covenant promise He had made to Abraham. Now we want to fast forward to chapter 31 when Jacob is talking to Rachel and Leah and tells them how in a dream the Angel of Yahweh spoke to him and instructed him. Read Genesis 31:1-13 and we will center on verses 11-13.

“Then the Angel of God (Elohim) said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God (El) of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”

In this Biblical narrative The angel of Yahweh explicitly tells Jacob in verse 13 that he was the God of Bethel. Remember Bethel is the place where Jacob has the dream and anoints a memorial pillar (stone), In that dream Jacob had seen many angels at Bethel and one lone deity—Yahweh, the God of Abraham and Isaac. As we move forward in the account, chapter 32 tells of Jacob’s departure from Laban. On the way the angels of God met him. This is not a dream, and when he sees them he calls the name of the place Machanayim, which means two camps, or bands of angels. Jacob has a plan to appease his brother Esau however, messengers tell Jacob that his brother is coming to meet him with 400 men. In verses 9-12 Jacob prays to be delivered from the hand of Esau, and puts God in remembrance of His covenant promise.

Then Jacob prayed, “God (Elohim) of my grandfather Abraham and God (Elohim) of my father Isaac! The LORD Yahweh, you said to me, ‘Go back to your land and to your family, and I will cause you to prosper,’…You have said, ‘I will cause you to prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

As we read on we find Jacob was left alone; it is there he wrestles with a man until the breaking of the day. This is Jacob’s most unexpected encounter with God. Let’s read verses 24-30 together.

24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God (Elohim) and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (facing El), saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

These verses reveal that the “man” Jacob wrestled with was a divine being. This divine being has appeared in a tangible and corporeal form; it is that of a man. He changes Jacob’s name to Israel and says “you have struggled with Elohim.” Nowhere does it say this was a dream or vision. Let’s turn to another scripture that confirms this.

Please turn to the Book of the Prophet Hosea. It is in the 12th chapter that the prophet confirms the divine identity of the “man” Jacob wrestled. He also adds two surprising details.

Hosea 12:2-5 confirms the divine identity of Jacob’s opponent and also adds two surprising details.

2 The LORD (Yahweh) has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he (Jacob) took his brother by the heel (H6117 Qal to supplant, circumvent)
    and in his manhood he strove with God (Elohim).
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met (encountered Elohim) God at Bethel,
    and there God (Elohim) spoke (with us—or with him is added, not included in the original language)
5 the LORD (Yahweh), the God (Elohim) of hosts (angel armies)
    the LORD (Yahweh) is his memorial name:

Hosea identifies Jacob’s opponent as an angel and then identifies the angel with Elohim and Bethel. The blurring between God and the Angel is deliberate. The point is NOT that Yahweh, the God of Israel is a mere angel.  The reverse is the case—This Angel is Yahweh the God of Israel.

Jacob Blesses the Angel That Redeemed Him

There is one more important passage in the Book of Genesis concerning Jacob, The God of Israel and the Angel of the LORD. It is Jacob’s deathbed blessing and you may read it in Genesis chapter 48. I will highlight verses 1-4, and 14-16.

1-4 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty (El-Shaddai) appeared to me at Luz (which Jacob then called Bethel) in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’

14-16 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). And he blessed Joseph and said “The God (Elohim) before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God (Elohim) who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Once again, the Biblical writer puts Elohim and the Angel in a parallel position. The scripture teaches that God is eternal and existed before all things, and that angels are created beings. So the writer is making a point in this parallel. The point is not to say imply that God is an angel. On the other hand, the point is to affirm that this This Angel is God.

In verse 16 it is written, “the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys.” The word “bless” is a verb in this passage; it is not plural. If it were plural it would indicate that two different persons are being asked to bless the boys.  But the word is singular. The author is revealing a tight fusion, a oneness of the two divine beings. In other words, the author had the opportunity to distinguish the God of Israel from the angel, but instead merges their identities.

This is not a mistake. The God of Israel is The One True God, but in more than one person.

Jacob met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with him, the LORD (Yahweh), the God (Elohim) of hosts (of Armies), the LORD (Yahweh) is his memorial name (reference back to Hosea 12:4-5).

In looking closely at the Old Testament scriptures, you may begin to see that the interactions between God and the patriarchs is surprising.  It may even cause you to wonder whether they affirmed or denied omnipresence. What exactly was their concept of Yahweh?

As we continue on it becomes clear that that the biblical writers understood Yahweh as invisible and always present in the spiritual realm (the heavens). Yahweh is also able to interact with humanity on earth. The invisible presence of God and the visible figure of Yahweh as a man can be present simultaneously.

I hope you have enjoyed Part 2 of this study and are encouraged to read the Bible and study it’s context; for this is one way we Unwrap the Bible and behold the Beauty of the Lord. There are other accounts that are worth studying in regard to how God made Himself known to his people.

New Content Coming Soon:

Unwrap how the Bible records Moses at the burning bush with The Angel of YHWH & Elohim 

Unwrap how the Bible records Joshua’s encounter with The Angel of Yahweh—The Commander of the LORD’S Armies

Unwrap the Biblical account of The Angel of YHWH and Gideon

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Next

The Word Made Flesh: This is Part Three of our study. We are still studying God as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures. In this section we will be examining scripture that speak to three areas (1) how New Testament writers used Old Testament scriptures (2) the record of Jesus speaking of himself (3) the use of Old Testament Titles such as: The Son of Man; The Word; The Cloud Rider and The Son of David.