The Divine Angel

1. Read: “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” (Isaiah 63:9).

2. About the Text:

1) Popularity of Subject

a. 2008 study Baylor University: 55% “Yes” to: “I was protected from harm by a guardian angel” (Biema).

b. Pew Research Center: “nearly seven-in-ten Americans (68%) believe that angels and demons are active in the world” (Pew 12).

2) What is the Bible’s teaching regarding the role of Angels?

a. Hebrew “mal’akh,” and Greek “angelos,””messenger.”

b. An “angel” is a messenger.

a) Messenger of God (e.g. Genesis 19:1);

b) Messenger of Satan (e.g. Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:9).

c. Sometimes the Angel is God Himself (e.g. Exodus 3:2, 14:19).

d. The word “angel” carries no inherent notion of “good.”

e. “Thorn in the flesh” as an “angelos satana,” or “angel of Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7).

f. Created beings (Psalm 148:2, 5), spirits, ministering to God and man (Hebrews 1:14).

3. The Angel as Divine Benefactor

1) Either for personal benefit and/or in moving forward God’s plan for man’s salvation.

2) The “angel of the LORD” as the Second Person of the godhead.

3) “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” (Isaiah 63:9).

4. Reference to S, T, P, and O.

5. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Hagar – the Angel exhorts her to go back to Sarai, and He says that her child would become a great multitude of people – a message of comfort (Genesis 16:9-10).

2. The Angel again spoke to her after she was cast out and exhorted her to pick up Ishmael and care for him because he would become a great nation (Genesis 21:18).

1) The Angel caused her to find water, and they survived.

2) This Angel provided personal protection and help.

3) God had already promised Abraham that Ishmael would be a great nation (Gen.17:12).

3. The Angel of the LORD also stopped Abraham from killing his son in Genesis 22:11.

4. Advised Jacob to return to Canaan (Gen.31:11-13), redeemed him from all evils (Gen.48:15-16).

5. Same Angel wrestled with Jacob (Genesis 32:24-30, Hosea 12:4-5).

1. This Angel continues to guide and protect the nation of Israel in the book of Exodus.

2. He appears to Moses out of the burning bush (Exodus 3:2).

3. Protected Israel from armies of Pharaoh—cloud by day and night (Ex.14:19-20; Num.20:16).

4. God promises to send His Angel to Canaan to defeat the Canaanites (Ex.23:20, 23; 32:34; 33:2).

5. Same Angel opposed the plans of Balaam and thwarted him (Numbers 22:22-35).

6. He led Joshua into battle as the Captain of the Lord’s hosts (Joshua 5:14).

1. Judges 2:1-4 – upbraids Israel for not obeying “my voice,” in removing idolatry from the land.

2. Curses Meroz in Judges 5:23 because they did not aid Deborah and Barak’s fight against Jabin.

3. Gideon becomes the recipient of the Angel’s attention in Judges 6:11-12 and 20-22.

4. Calls Gideon into service, and proves His authority by a sign; He burns a cake saturated in a non-flammable liquid with the end of his staff.

5. Judges 13:3-21, Samson’s parents visited by the Angel promises a child to Manoah’s barren wife.

6. Ascends into heaven on the fire of a burnt offering (Judges 13:20).

1. Who are we looking at in these instances?

1) The Angel of the LORD is the LORD, Yahweh.

2) He does things that only the LORD does.

a. Make people into nations.

b. Upbraid God’s people.

c. Accepts worship.

2. Twofold work: rebuke for those who sinned, and encouragement to the faithful.

3. The LORD is capable of caring for and saving His people as he purposes.

1) No unilateral protection for every individual righteous person.

2) No clear paradigm for the notion of the “guardian angel.”

3) Always acts according to His purpose whether to make Ishmael a great nation, rebuke Israel, or raise up a judge.

4. Ps.34:7 “The Angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.”

1) Conditional (only for those who fear Him).

2) Based upon the purposes of the LORD.

5. It is not God’s general policy for His saints to be given over to destruction, however, their suffering and death does not imply His lack of concern.

1. The Bible is the history of God working in the world to bring salvation to His people.

2. What we are seeing in these verses is the second person of the godhead – Jesus.

1) John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

2) He worked with the Patriarchs, Moses, and the Judges to bring about His birth in the world.

3) He did this so men could be saved from sin.

4) Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

5) What will you do with Jesus?

3. Invitation