Who is the angel referred to in Exodus 23:20? Text of Exodus 23:20 “Behold, I am sending an Angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” Immediate Context Exodus 23:20–23 follows the covenant stipulations given at Sinai. God promises supernatural guidance for Israel’s journey into Canaan, linking this Angel’s work to covenant faithfulness: “Pay attention to Him and listen to His voice…for My Name is in Him” (v. 21). Divine Attributes Ascribed 1. Divine Authority: Israel must “obey His voice” (v. 21). 2. Power to Forgive or Not Forgive Sin: prerogative reserved for God alone (Isaiah 43:25; Mark 2:7). 3. The Divine Name: “My Name is in Him” (v. 21), signifying the fullness of God’s nature (cf. Isaiah 30:27). Parallels with Other ‘Angel of YHWH’ Appearances • Burning Bush (Exodus 3:2–4): The Angel speaks as God, calls Himself “I AM,” and Moses hides his face from Him. • Red Sea (Exodus 14:19): “The Angel of God” and the pillar of cloud move together—later described simply as “YHWH” (v. 24). • Judges 2:1–5; 6:11–24; 13:3–22: The Angel uses first-person divine language and accepts worship. Presence of the Divine Name In ancient Near-Eastern thought, possession of the divine name implied possession of divine essence and authority. The Septuagint renders Exodus 23:21 with the Greek ὄνομά μου ἐστιν ἐπ’ αὐτόν (“My Name is upon Him”), the same phrase used for YHWH’s dwelling in the Temple (1 Kings 8:29), underscoring deity. New Testament Light 1 Corinthians 10:4 speaks of Christ accompanying Israel: “the Rock was Christ.” Jude 5 (earliest manuscripts) reads, “Jesus, having saved the people out of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” These texts explicitly place Jesus in the Exodus narrative, harmonizing with the Angel’s role. Early Jewish and Christian Witness • Philo of Alexandria identifies the “Angel” as the Λόγος (Logos) of God (On the Migration of Abraham 174). • Justin Martyr (Dialogue LVI) argues that the Angel who spoke to Moses was the pre-incarnate Christ. • Targum Onkelos paraphrases Exodus 23:21, calling the Angel “the Memra of YHWH,” an Aramaic term for God’s personal Word. Systematic Theological Implication: The Pre-Incarnate Son The Angel of Exodus 23:20 is best understood as a Christophany—an appearance of the eternal Son prior to His incarnation. He: • Bears the divine Name (John 17:11). • Exercises divine prerogatives (Mark 2:10). • Mediates the covenant (Hebrews 9:15; Galatians 3:19). This coheres with Trinitarian revelation: the Father sends, the Son goes before, and the Spirit accompanies (Isaiah 63:9–14). Alternative Proposals Considered 1. A Created Archangel (e.g., Michael). Rejected because Scripture nowhere grants any created angel authority to forgive sin or bear God’s Name. 2. A Theophoric Metaphor. Insufficient, as the Angel is a distinct personal agent who speaks and travels with Israel. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration • Sinai inscriptions (Proto-Sinaitic, 16th cent. BC) show early literacy, supporting Mosaic authorship. • Late Bronze Age destruction layers in Canaanite cities (e.g., Hazor, Bethel, Debir) align with the conquest chronology tied to the Angel’s leadership (Joshua 10–11). These data affirm historical context for the Angel’s promise. Relevance to Salvation History The Angel functions as covenant mediator, foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate mediation (1 Timothy 2:5). His presence anticipates the incarnation, His guidance prefigures the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), and His power to forgive points to the cross and resurrection. Practical and Devotional Application • Obedience to the Angel’s voice equates to obedience to God’s Word today. • Assurance: the same divine Person who led Israel now indwells believers (Colossians 1:27). • Worship: recognizing Christ’s eternal ministry evokes reverence and gratitude. Concluding Synopsis The Angel in Exodus 23:20 is not a created being but the pre-incarnate Son, bearing God’s Name, exercising divine authority, and preparing the covenant people for their inheritance—an office consummated in Jesus’ resurrection and ongoing lordship. |
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