Isaiah 6
In the Theophonies, the Lord revealed God and His glory and that there was a vision of Christ, which is verified by John. Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (see Colossians 1). In John 12:41 he says, “These things said Isaiah, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him.” It was when Uzziah died that Isaiah saw “the Lord high and lifted up.” For this text, note 2 Chronicles 26, which describes Uzziah’s rise and fall.
The Appearance to Abraham
In Genesis 22, Abraham took the knife to slay Isaac. The angel of the Lord called to Him saying, “Thou hast not withheld thy son from Me, thine only son.” There were those kind of appearances in Jacob’s life:
(1) At Bethel he saw one in his dream who said, “I am the Lord God of Abraham, and behold I am with thee.” See Genesis 22:11-22.
(2) In Genesis 31:11-13, the one whom Jacob called “the Angel of the Lord” appeared to him and said, “I am the God of Bethel.”
(3) This experience was at Peniel in Genesis 32. The angel with whom he wrestles is described as God. After the experience Jacob says, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
The Appearance to the Children of Israel
The children of Israel experience a similar appearance. In Exodus 13:21 we see that “the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud.” Again in Exodus 14:19 we see that “The Angel of the Lord which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them.”
The Appearance to Manasseh and his Wife
In Judges 13, the Angel received the offering of Manassah. When Manassah asked His name, the Angel replied, “Why asketh thou after my name, seeing it is secret?” The word for “secret” is “wonderful,” which is one of the names used for the Lord (see Isaiah 9:6). As the offering was devoured by the flame and ascended toward heaven, the angel ascended in the flame.
Other Appearances
- In Numbers 22, the Angel appeared to Balaam.
- In 1 Chronicles 21:16-27, the Angel stood between heaven and earth with drawn signs over Jerusalem, after David had sinned in numbering the people. The sword was only sheathed when the sacrifice was offered.
- Exodus 21:10 says, “Hosea, Aaron, Nadab, Abihar, and seventy elders of Israel saw the God of Israel.”
- Daniel 10 says, “By the Tigris Daniel saw the Lord.”
- When the three Hebrew children of the Old Testament were put into the fiery furnace, they were protected. This illustrates God’s care for His own, “One like unto the Son of God.”
- Daniel’s deliverance from the lions. God protected His child and did so by illustrating His power over the roaring lion, which can symbolize Satan.