Jesus in the Old Testament 007: Jesus and the Three Visitors

Jesus in the Old Testament

007 Jesus and the Three Visitors

Thesis: After 25 years of progressive revelation, Abraham is now given the clearest revelation of God and of His will through the visitation of the pre-incarnate Son to him in a physical manifestation.  Jesus works to increase closeness and clarity and to confirm the covenant. 

1. Nutshell (<5 min with kids)
1. Proximity and Clarity:
1. If we were to go outside and look east, how clearly could you see the Atlantic Ocean? Why? (far away, lots of obstacles)
2. If we were to go outside and look north, how clearly could you see Winona Lake? Could you see any evidence of a lake?
3. If we were to go outside and look across the street, how clearly could you see the Leestma house? What could you know for sure about it?
4. How clearly can you see me? What can you know about me?
5. The closer something is to you, the more clearly you understand it.
2. For 25 years, Abraham has been being told by God that God would make him a great nation.  He has been told through dreams, through a vision, through hearing a voice, but it has not yet happened.  What kind of confidence would you have?
3. Now, in Genesis 18, God is going to appear to Abraham in a physical form, eat a meal with him, and give him a firm timeline.  What kind of confidence would you have now?
4. Jesus’ job is to reveal the Father (Jn 1:14).  He is doing it again for Abraham here.

2. Deeper
1. Context: God had been revealing his plan to Abraham in ever-increasingly clear ways while drawing him into an ever-more-intimate relationship.
1. Genesis 12:1-3

a)     God speaks.  No idea of the vehicle of revelation. Voice only?

b)     Broad strokes: Go, I will show you where.  You will become a nation. Blessing and curses associated with how people treat you.

2. Genesis 13:14-18

a)     Again, only a voice. 

b)     Look around you, this is the land you will receive. You will have many offspring (dust of the earth).

3. Genesis 15:

a)     A vision

b)     Confirmation of the call, you will have a physical heir; stars of the heavens.

c)      Entry into a blood covenant (vs 7-21)

d)     Specific prophecy regarding slavery and deliverance in Egypt.

4. Genesis 16: Abraham not able to endure the waiting (10 years), Ishmael.
5. Genesis 17:

a)     The Lord appears to Abraham (still a vision of some kind).

b)     Reaffirms the covenant given 24 years ago.

c)      Child’s name is given, Isaac.

d)     Circumcision given, names changed.

e)     The specific timeline was given (this time next year).

f)       The vision leaves.

6. Covenants

a)     Parties: God and Abraham (and family)

b)     Terms: Increasingly clear (above)

c)      Blood sacrifice: Ch 15

d)     Sign: Circumcision

e)     Meal: Not yet fulfilled.

2. Genesis 18: 1-15, Covenant meal
1. Chapter divisions not original, this seems to be immediately after the events in Ch 17. 
2. In some ways, a very normal scene:

a)     Abraham resting in the opening to his tent

b)     The heat of the day, no work.

c)      Travelers during this time of day would seek hospitality.

d)     Hospitality the “first law of the Orient.”

3. We are told that at least one of three visitors is Yahweh (vs 1).

a)     Cannot be the Father (nobody can see the Father and live)

b)     Jesus reveals the Father (Jn 1:14)

c)      We are told later that the other two are angels (vs 22; 19:1)

4. Abraham somehow knows that God is in physical form

a)     From his vision in Ch 17?

b)     אֲדֹנָי [ʾAdonay /ad·o·noy/] n m. An emphatic form of 113; TWOT 27b; GK 151; 434 occurrences; AV translates as “Lord” 431 times, “lord” twice, and “God” once. 1 my lord, lord. 1A of men. 1B of God. 2 Lord—title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence.  Only used of Yahweh in the Bible.

5. God’s purpose for this mission is revelation, intimacy, and clarity (vs 17-20).
6. Abraham’s response is much more than hospitality, it is worship

a)     He had hundreds of servants (14:14)

b)     Ran to them, despite being old, a very high-ranking man, and healing from circumcision.

c)      “Bowed himself to the earth” much more than a casual bow of respect. Laid Prostrate.

d)     Provisions in ridiculous amount and expense for three people

(1)   A choice tender calf (meat only eaten on special occasions, this was a lavish expense).

(2)  Three “measures” or “Seahs” of fine flour.  21 Quarts of fine flour would make 35 sandwich-bread sized loaves!

(3)  Curds and milk

e)     Prepared in haste 3 uses of quickly, ran

f)       Abraham stood, waited on them while they ate.

7. Fulfillment of the covenant ceremony with the sharing of a meal

a)     Just as only God passed between the bodies of the blood sacrifice, only God eats. 

b)     Abraham has responsibilities, but the weight of the covenant rests solely on God.

8. Jesus speaks clearly, with a physical body, regularly-discerned words clarifying that Isaac will be born before a year passes.

a)     Sarah scoffs inwardly

b)     Jesus brings it out miraculously.

3. Genesis 18:16-33 Abraham intercedes.
1.  The angels leave to carry out the will of God.
2. Abraham prays to Jesus, relying on the merciful nature of God.
4. Genesis 19: Destruction of Sodom
1. In the end, God accomplishes his will to judge.
2. Jesus is both redeemer and judge.
3. Key passage to demonstrate Christophany: vs 24.  Yahweh (on earth, staying with Abraham) rained down sulfur from Yahweh in heaven and consumed the cities.
5. Jesus comes to bring closeness:
1. Matthew 11:27
2. John 14:21
3. John 15:4, 15-16
4. John 17:3
6. Jesus comes to bring clarity:
1. 1 Cor 2:6-15
2. 1 Cor 13:11-13
3. 2 Cor 4:6
4. Eph 1:17-18
5. Heb 1:1-3
7. Jesus alone always bears the weight of the covenant
1. John 3:36
2. 1 Tim 2:5
3. 2 Cor 5:21
4. Gal 2:16

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you feel that God is far away or close by in your life? 
2. If you feel far away from God, what can you do to feel closer (Hint: It has nothing to do with how “good” you are)?
3. Do you think you know what God’s plan for your life is?
4. Based on the story of Abraham, what can you do to know God’s plan for your life?
5. Jesus has always been the one to make covenants (promises) to God’s people.  What promises has He made to you through His word? Are you living according to the terms of those promises?

Jesus in the Old Testament 5: Jesus, the Angel of the Lord

Jesus in the Old Testament 005:

Jesus, the Angel of the Lord

Thesis: Jesus Christ has always been the Person of the Godhead who is sent out into creation for the purpose of imaging and revealing God to man.  That role is most clearly revealed in his 35 or so years of physical life on the Earth after His incarnation, but those were not the first years of His fulfillment of that role.  Before His incarnation, such appearances were recorded in scripture as manifestations of “The Angel of the Lord.”

1. Nutshell (>5 min with kids):
1. What is Jesus’ main job? 
2. Read John 1:18.  Jesus’ main job is to reveal to us the Father, to make a way for a relationship with him.
3. When did Jesus start doing this job?
1. He has always been the one to reveal and make a way for us to know God.
2. Introduce the character of “The Angel of the Lord”
3. Angel = Messenger, sent one
4. Jesus is much more than an angel, but he is the “sent one” of God.
4. Have you responded to Jesus’ desire to have you know and have a relationship with God?

2. Deeper
1. Some Preliminary principles from scripture first:
1. Nobody can see God and live:

a)    Deut 4:12

b)    Ex 33:20

c)    1Tim 6:15-17

d)    1Jn 4:12

2. Angels do not receive worship:

a)    Rom 1:25

b)    Col 2:18-19

c)    Rev 22:8-9

2. Gen 16:1-13:  Hagar
1. Clearly the angel of the Lord (vs 7, 9, 10, 11)
2. Yet, speaks as God (vs 10-12) Not, “The Lord says…”
3. Hagar’s reaction is to declare that she has seen and been seen by God “El-Roi,” The God who sees me.
4. Also, Ishmael, the name given to Hagar’s son, means “God hears me.”  All senses involved.
5. The first appearance of TAOTL is to a runaway slave fleeing an oppressive master.

a)    Hardly an “important” person.

b)    Fleeing the house of faith and blessing (although not perfect) and heading toward Pagan Egypt.

c)    Satan would tell us that, once we’ve turned toward sin, it is a permanent trajectory, but Jesus intercepts those fleeing from him toward sin and encourages an about-face. 1 John 1:9

d)    The rest of the story implies that she obeyed, although her obedience is not directly stated.

3. Gen 22:9-22:  Abraham Sacrificing Isaac
1. TAOTL calls to Abraham (vs 11, 22)
2. Speaks as God (vs 12, 16-18)

a)    Implies that the worship and the devotion of Abraham were toward him (vs12).

b)    esp. vs 16 “By myself I have sworn”

c)    Isa 45:23; Heb 6:13-18.  Specifically, this is attributed to God.

3. Reiterates the covenant with Abraham.
4. TAOTL prophecies of the coming Messiah through the family of Abraham (vs 18). Cf. Gal 3:16
3. Gen 31:11-13: Striped and Spotted goats
1. TAOTL speaks to Jacob in a dream
2. Directly claims to be God (vs 13)
3. Gives a command and is obeyed.
4. Exodus 3:1-21: Burning Bush
1. Several critical aspects of God’s nature are revealed in this interchange!
2. God’s name is given (vs13-15)
3. God’s plan to redeem Israel out of Egypt through signs and wonders (vs 7-12, 17-21)
4. God’s desire to be worshiped by His people (12, 18)
5. God’s plan to judge Egypt for their treatment of the Jews (vs 20-21)
6. God’s identification as the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (vs 6, 13, 15, 16).
7. Who is speaking all of this rich revelation? TAOTL! Vs. 2.

a)    Not a separate speaker.  TAOTL is in the bush (vs 2)

b)    God speaks from out of the bush (vs v4)

c)    Moses is afraid to look at God (vs 6).

6. Exodus 13:21; 14:19; 23:20
1. In 13:21, the Lord goes before them. 
2. In 14:19, TAOTL goes before them.
3. In 23:20, we are told that TAOTL is more than an angel, for the name of God is on him.  In other words, he is of the same nature and substance as the Father.
7. Num 22:22-35: Balam’s Ass
1. Very odd story!
2. TAOTL is seen in judgment and power here.
3. Again, He speaks as God (vs 32)
4. Claims to be the one who speaks through the prophets (35)
5. Receives worship (vs 31).
8. Josh 5:13-6:7
1. TAOTL, this time called “a man,” which is commonly done in other Biblical stories.
2. Identifies himself as “The Commander of the army of the Lord”
3. Rev 19:11-16
4. Receives worship (vs 14).
5. Declares that where He is is holy ground.  Josh removes shoes (vs 15; c.f. burning bush).
6. Speaks as God (vs 2) and Declares the plan of God to Joshua (6:1-5)
7. Joshua obeys.
9. Judges 2:1-5: Rebuke of Israel’s disobedience
1. TAOTL again pictured in judgment.
2. Claims responsibility for the miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt (vs 1)
3. Claims responsibility for the instructions given through Moses in Deut 7:2 and 12:3, which Moses delivers as from God (vs 2)
4. Again receives worship (vs 5).
5. In most appearances, the instructions of TAOTL are obeyed.  Here, he comes to address disobedience.
10. Judges 6:11-24: Gideon
1. TAOTL appears and speaks as God (14) and reveals the plan of God to Gideon, which e eventually obeys.
2. Receives worship (vs 18-21) even providing the fire for the offering himself.
3. Gideon fears that he will die for seeing God face-to-face, although he mentions that he knows it is the angel of the Lord (vs 22). 
4. Gideon need not fear (vs 23).  Jesus’ role is to reveal that which cannot be seen!
5. Instructs Gideon in a courageous way to worship God (vs 25-26).
11. Judges 13:2-25: Manoah
1. TAOTL appears twice, neither time announcing who he is, although Manoah’s wife guess correctly (vs 6).
2. He reveals the plan of God and the promise of deliverance to Manoah’s wife (vs 3-5).
3. Manoah generally disbelieves his wife’s testimony.
4. When asked his name, he declines to answer again but says that his name is wonderful (hard, too full of awe, to understand; vs 17-18).
5. TAOTL receives worship, but in a mysterious way, first playing on Manoah’s disbelief in TAOTL’s identity and message (vs 15-21; 23)
6. Afterward, Manoah believes and fears for his life (vs 21-22).
7. Manoah’s wife’s obedience is implied in the unfolding story of Samson in vs 24.
8. The Holy Spirit is mentioned in vs 25, so all three members of the Trinity are mentioned in this chapter.
12. The Angel of the Lord (TAOTL) is a very strange character in the OT
1. He speaks as God and makes covenants
2. He receives worship
3. He is recognized as God by those whom he visits
4. He reveals the mind, character, and will of God
5. He judges and punishes sin
6. He commands the armies of heaven
13. John 1:18
1. Jesus’ job is to reveal the invisible God to us. 
2. He is the exact nature of God (Col 1:15; Heb 1:3)
3. John 14:9 Those who saw Jesus saw the Father
14. The message of Jesus is and has always been to reveal the heart of God, judge sin, and make covenants of peace with God’s people, so that He might prepare a worshipping community of people in fellowship with the Father!  Have you received and responded to that message?

Discussion Questions:

1. Before tonight, what did you think about Jesus’ existence before the manger in Bethlehem?
2. Why do you think people called Jesus’ appearances in the OT the “Angel” of the Lord?
3. If Jesus’ job has always been to reveal God and invite people into a relationship with Him, what was different before and after he came as the baby in Bethlehem?
4. Have you responded to the invitation of Jesus to know and be loved by God?