Exodus 3:2
angel of the Lord. Exo_3:4; Exo_3:6, *Gen_16:7-13; Gen_21:17-18; Gen_22:11-12; Gen_22:15-16; Gen_31:11; Gen_31:13; *Gen_48:15; Gen_48:16, *Deu_33:16, Jdg_6:11-16; *Jdg_13:20-23, *Isa_63:9, Dan_3:25 note, Dan_3:28, Hos_12:4-5, +Zec_12:8, Mal_3:1, Mar_12:26, Luk_20:37, >Act_7:30-35, Consulting carefully the preceding Parallel Passages, it can be seen that the Angel of Jehovah is identified as God and as Jehovah. The Angel of Jehovah
(1) first appeared by that name in Scripture to Hagar, Gen_16:7-13, The Angel of Jehovah (Gen_16:7) is spoken of as Jehovah (Gen_16:13) and addressed directly as God (Gen_16:13).
(2) The Angel of Jehovah appeared to Abraham, Gen_22:15-16, The Angel of Jehovah is one of the Divine Persons of the Trinity, for He is called Jehovah, Gen_22:16 in the immediate context.
(3) This is proof that there is more than one Jehovah, for the Angel of Jehovah is one person and Jehovah who sent Him is another, most particularly confirmed at Gen_19:24 note, where both Jehovahs are on the same scene, one in heaven, one on earth witnessing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the other in heaven sending the destruction.
(4) The Angel of Jehovah is identified as Jehovah in Exo_6:3, where this name is in contrast to El Shaddai.
(5) The Angel of Jehovah is Jehovah: Gen_31:11-13; Gen_48:15-16 with Gen_45:5, Exo_3:1-9 with Act_7:30-35, It was Jehovah in visible Presence as the Angel of Jehovah who went before the Israelites to lead them day and night from Egypt to Canaan by day in a pillar of a cloud and by night in a pillar of fire, Exo_13:21, It was the manifestation of and the dwelling place of the Angel of God that guided them (+Exo_14:19; Exo_32:34, Num_9:16-18; Num_20:16). Compare Isa_4:5, reference to the Millennium. This Angelic Presence in the Wilderness is one of the members of the Godhead who is often called the Angel of Jehovah or the Angel of God (Exo_14:19, Jdg_6:11-23; Jdg_13:9-20).
(6) The Angel of Jehovah is clearly and directly called Jehovah (Exo_13:21-22; Exo_14:19; Exo_14:21-25; Exo_14:31).
(7) The Angel of Jehovah is a Person distinct from Jehovah, for He is one Jehovah who is a separate person from the Jehovah who sent him, thus demonstrating there is more than one person in the Godhead called Jehovah. Perhaps the clearest example of more than one person in the Godhead named Jehovah is seen at Gen_19:24, where the Bible clearly teaches there is more than one Jehovah. One Jehovah on earth (who had appeared to Abraham as God Almighty, Gen_17:1, and appeared again as one of three men to Abraham, Gen_18:1, two of whom were angels, but the third is addressed as Jehovah) who rained fire and brimstone from another Jehovah in heaven.
(8). The phrase "the Angel of Jehovah" is used many times, and it is clear from the Scriptures that this angel is both Lord (Jehovah) and God (Gen_16:7-11; Gen_22:1-16, Exo_14:19-31, Num_22:22-35, Jdg_2:1-4; Jdg_6:11-24; Jdg_13:2-25, Zec_1:9-19; Zec_3:1-6; +Zec_12:8, Act_7:30-38). The literal meaning is that one Jehovah (God the Father) sends anther Jehovah (God the Son) as His messenger.
(9) Consult further the following Scriptures: Gen_24:7; Gen_24:40, Exo_23:20; Exo_32:34, Num_20:16, 1Ch_21:15-18, Isa_63:9, Dan_3:25-28, Zec_1:12-13.
(10) The foregoing Bible evidence leads to the conclusion that the Angel of Jehovah is the Second Person of the Trinity. The Second Person is the Visible God of the Old Testament (Joh_1:18). The Angel of Jehovah no longer appears after the incarnation of Christ. We can thus infer that He now appears as the incarnate Christ. Both the Angel of Jehovah and Christ are sent by the Father (Exo_23:20, Joh_20:21). The Angel of Jehovah was sent to reveal truth, to lead Israel, to defend and judge them. Christ in the New Testament was sent by God to reveal God in the flesh (Joh_14:9), to reveal truth, and to become the Savior. The similar character of the ministry of the Angel of Jehovah and Christ serves to identify them. Both the Angel of Jehovah and Christ appeared to men as the messenger of God (Gen_16:7 note. Mat_10:40, Joh_5:24; Joh_5:36; Joh_6:29; Joh_6:38-39; Joh_8:16; Joh_8:18; Joh_8:26; Joh_8:29; Joh_8:42; Joh_9:4, 1Co_10:4; 1Co_10:9).
(11) The Angel of Jehovah is called the Angel of God (Gen_21:17; Gen_31:11, **Exo_3:2, Jdg_6:20; Jdg_13:9, Act_27:23).
(12) This Angel of the Old Testament is called the Angel of Jehovah (Gen_16:7-11; Gen_22:11; Gen_22:15, Exo_14:19, Num_22:22-35, Jdg_2:1; Jdg_2:4; Jdg_6:11-12; Jdg_6:21-22; Jdg_13:3-6; Jdg_13:13-21, 2Ki_1:3; 2Ki_1:15; 2Ki_19:35, 1Ch_21:12-30, Psa_34:7; Psa_35:5-6, Isa_37:36, Zec_1:9-19; Zec_3:1-6; +Zec_12:8, Act_7:30-38).
(13) He is called "His Angel" (Gen_24:7; Gen_24:40, Exo_23:20; Exo_33:2, Num_20:16, 2Ch_32:21, Dan_3:28; Dan_6:22).
(14) He is called "the Angel" (Gen_48:16, 1Ch_21:27, Ecc_5:6, Hos_12:4, Act_7:38).
(15) He is called "mine Angel" (Exo_23:23; Exo_32:34).
(16) He is called the "Angel of his presence" (Isa_63:9).
(17) He is called "Angel" (Rev_8:3-5; Rev_10:1—Rev_11:3).
(18) We may properly conclude that the Angel of Jehovah can not be either the Father or the Holy Spirit for as the Angel of Jehovah is the sent one, he could not be the Father who sends him; and as the Angel of Jehovah is God in bodily form, He could not be the Holy Spirit, as the attribute of immateriality is always possessed by the Holy Spirit, and His ministry is never characterized by physical attributes.
(19) Appearances of Christ ("Christophanies") other than as the Angel of Jehovah: Jehovah appears as a man (Gen_18:1-22); appeared to the man Jacob (Gen_32:24-32); appeared to the elders of Israel (Exo_24:9-11); Christ further appeared as the cloud of the Lord, the glory of the Lord, and the cloudy pillar (Exo_33:9-23; Exo_40:38, See also Jos_5:13-15, Eze_1:1-28, Dan_10:1-21).
(20) The Theophanies prove the pre-existence and deity of Christ, for the Hebrew Scriptures affirm the deity of the Angel of Jehovah (Jdg_2:1-5, 2Ki_19:35); The Angel of Jehovah is identified as God (Gen_21:17 with Gen_22:11; Gen_22:15, Jdg_6:20 with Jdg_6:11-12; Jdg_6:21-22 Jdg_13:6; Jdg_13:9 with Jdg_13:3; Jdg_13:13; Jdg_13:15-18; since Christ is the Angel of Jehovah, Christ is both deity and God. Compare 1Pe_2:3 note).
flame. *Isa_10:17.
bush burned. Gen_15:13-17, Deu_4:11; Deu_4:20; Deu_5:23, Psa_66:12, Isa_43:2; Isa_53:10-11, Dan_3:27, Zec_13:7, Joh_1:14, Rom_8:3, 2Co_1:8-10.
with fire. Gen_15:17, Exo_13:21; Exo_19:18; Exo_24:17, 1Ki_19:12, Isa_4:5, Eze_1:27-28; Eze_8:2, Heb_10:27; Heb_12:29.
not consumed. Num_21:28; Num_26:10, Job_15:34, Psa_129:2, *Isa_43:2.
The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury by Jerome H. Smith © 2004
It is unfortunate that many older works use the name of Jehovah rather than YHWH or Yahweh.