Theophanies

One way that God revealed Himself in the Old Testament and dealt with humans on their level was through the use of theophanies. A theophany is a visible manifestation of God, and we usually think of it as temporary in nature.

As we have seen, God is invisible to humans. To make Himself visible, He manifested Himself in a physical form. Even though no humans can see the Spirit of God, they can see a representation of God.

God appeared to Abraham in a vision, as a smoking furnace and burning lamp, and as a man (Genesis 15:1, 17; 18:1-33). In this last instance, God and two angels appeared in the form of three men (18:2) and ate food provided by Abraham.

The two angels left to go to Sodom while God remained to talk to Abraham (Genesis 18:22; 19:1). God appeared to Jacob in a dream and as a man (Genesis 28:12-16; 32:24-32). On the latter occasion Jacob wrestled with the man and proclaimed, “I have seen God face to face.”

The Bible also describes this appearance as “the angel” (Hosea 12:4). God appeared to Moses in a cloud of glory and in fire on Mount Sinai, spoke to him face to face in the Tabernacle, and revealed to him His back (partial glory) but not His face (all His glory) (Exodus 24:1218; 33:9-11, 18-23).

These references to God’s face and God’s glory probably are metaphoric of the presence of God and could apply to many different types of manifestations. God manifested Himself in the sight of all Israel through thunder, lightnings, a cloud, a voice of a trumpet, smoke, fire, and earthquakes (Exodus 19:11-19; Deuteronomy 5:4-5, 22-27).

He also showed His glory and sent fire from His presence in the sight of all Israel (Leviticus 9:23-24; 10:1-2). Job saw God in a whirlwind (Job 38:1; 42:5). Various prophets saw visions of God (Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1:26-28; 8:1-4; Daniel 7:2, 9; Amos 9:1). To Ezekiel He appeared in the form of a man, enveloped in fire. To Daniel He appeared in a night vision as the Ancient of Days.

Some of the numerous appearance of “the angel of the LORD” seem to be theophanies. The angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar, spoke as though he were God, and was called God by her (Genesis 16:7-13). The Bible says the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in the burning bush but then says God talked to Moses on that occasion (Exodus 3; Acts 7:30-38).

Exodus 13:21 says the LORD went before Israel in a pillar of cloud, while Exodus 14:19 says the angel of God was with the pillar of cloud. The angel of the LORD appeared to Israel in Judges 2:1-5 and spoke as God. Judges 6:11-24 describes the appearance of the angel of the LORD to Gideon and then says the LORD looked on Gideon. Again, the angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah and his wife, and they believed they had seen God (Judges 13:2-23)

Many regard Melchizedek as a theophany (Genesis 14:18). Hebrews 7:3 says he was without father, mother, and descent. This could mean that he was God in human form, or it could mean simply that his genealogical origin was not recorded. Hebrews 7:4 does call him a man. Regardless of whether one considers him to be an ordinary man or a theophany of God in the form of a man, he was a type or foreshadowing of Christ (Hebrews 7:1-17).

One supposed theophany is the fourth man who appeared in the fire when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the furnace (Daniel 3:24-25). The New Testament records no theophanies of God in human form outside of Jesus Christ. Of course. Christ was more than a theophany; He was not just God appearing in the form of a man but He was God clothed with real and complete humanity. The angel of the Lord in Matthew 1:20, 2:13, 28:2 and Acts 8:26 seems to be an angel and nothing more; there is no evidence to the contrary. It is clear in these passages that the angel is not Jesus Christ.