Who is the Angel of the Lord?

              The mysteries of God are beyond all imagination, more specifically the Trinity. I have been recently studying The Exodus and Judges and have come across some things that have caught my attention. This is particularly the Angel of the LORD- more specifically The Angel of YHWH. In the footnotes of my bible, it tells me that whenever I see the word "LORD", in Capital letters, it means YHWH (Yahweh) can be replaced or translated to that particular title.  This is the original name of God in the Hebrew writings, as well as in ancient Judaic history and writings. The ancient Jews of the past thought Gods name to be so Holy and perfect that they couldn't even WRITE his name, so as a result, they didn't write it out fully. This is how they viewed the name YHWH. This is why there are abbreviated in such a sense.

             Since I am studying these texts, I cannot help but be astonished at the characteristics and descriptions of this being that appears (this being the Angel of the LORD) in many passages. I am going to make a critique of the chapter and verse and see what it will reveal to us. Who is The Angel of the LORD? Is he a simple Angel as it says, or could it be the preincarnation of Christ or some form of a Trinitarian entity? The mysteries of God are amazing and this is one of the most enjoyable and fascinating things for me to do. Yet at the same time I can't jump to conclusions so hastily and foolishly, as well all ought to! Here we go!

I am going to start off in Exodus, even though there are many incidences where the Angel appears. I am going to begin by where I studied and make my way around to the others. So, let us start off in the Exodus with Moses and the burning bush.

         As the story goes, gets approached by God in the burning bush in Exodus chapter 3. This happens while the Hebrews/Israelites are being oppressed. Let's look at what happens:

"Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² And  the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed." Exodus 3:1-2

           Now let's take note here: The Angel of the LORD has appeared to him in the bush here.

"And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." ⁴When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." ⁵Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." ⁶And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God." Exodus 3:3-6

 You can read the rest if you like. At this point on God is is just discussing to Moses how he wants to draw his people out of the hands of the Egyptians. Now, I want to make several points here in these 6 verses.

1. Why did the Angel of the LORD enter the bush? Was it here to convey the message to Moses? Or was it himself speaking on behalf of God, AS GOD?
2. The Angel entered the bush, YHWH (God speaks out of it). Is the Angel God?
3. The message conveyed has a very interesting style to it. Anyone will say that God was in the bush and the text says just that, but was it the message of God through the Angel? Or was the Angel actually God speaking?

             These are just several interesting things to contemplate. I will not assert something is or is not God, especially in a difficult text such as this, however I will continue to examine the other texts of The Angel of the LORD and I will encourage you too. Let me end this session with a quote from Jude:

"Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt,  afterward destroyed those who did not believe." Jude 1:5

hmm...

If you have time, watch this debate: