Angel in the Bush

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If God was in the bush, why did the angel have to be there?

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The angel is in the bush.

Exd 3:2

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed.

Then, the Lord God is in the bush

Exd 3:4

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I.

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Both the angel AND God are in the bush!

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Angels are messengers for God.

It is not typical for God to come along with the angel to deliver the message, when he has already delegated the task of delivery to the angel.

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If God speaks directly, he does not need an angel.

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So why was the angel of the Lord and God both in the same bush?

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What made this angel different?

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Clues

The predominant word for God here is Elohim, which is plural.

Elohim is used to denote judgment.

But the word YHVH is also used, with the angel of the Lord.

YHVH is used to denote compassion.

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“Angel of the Lord” is translated in Hebrew as Malak YHVH, not Malak Elohim.

Malak YHVH is the compassionate side of Elohim, which is plural, and denotes the presence of the Godhead.

Notice (below) how there seems to be 2 personalities coming from the bush.

The named speaker changes back and forth from the word Elohim to Yehovah, as if 2 personalities were speaking, not one:

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And the angel		h4397	מלאך mal’ak
of the LORD		h3068	יהוה Yĕhovah

And when the LORD		h3068	יהוה Yĕhovah
saw		h7200	ראה ra’ah
that he turned aside		h5493	סור cuwr
to see,		h7200	ראה ra’ah
God		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym
called		h7121	קרא qara’

Moreover he said,		h559	אמר ‘amar
I [am] the God		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym
of thy father,		h1	אב ‘ab
the God		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym
of Abraham,		h85	אברהם ‘Abraham

And Moses		h4872	משה Mosheh
hid		h5641	סתר cathar
his face;		h6440	פנים paniym
for he was afraid		h3372	ירא yare’
to look		h5027	נבט nabat
upon God.		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym

And the LORD		h3068	יהוה Yĕhovah
said,		h559	אמר ‘amar
I have surely		h7200	ראה ra’ah
seen		h7200	ראה ra’ah
the affliction		h6040	עני `oniy
of my people		h5971	עם `am

And Moses		h4872	משה Mosheh
said		h559	אמר ‘amar
unto God,		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym
Behold, [when] I come		h935	בוא bow’
unto the children		h1121	בן ben
of Israel,		h3478	ישראל Yisra’el
and shall say		h559	אמר ‘amar
unto them, The God		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym
of your fathers		h1	אב ‘ab
hath sent		h7971	שלח shalach
me unto you; and they shall say		h559	אמר ‘amar
to me, What [is] his name?		h8034	שם shem
what shall I say		h559	אמר ‘amar

And God		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym
said		h559	אמר ‘amar
unto Moses,		h4872	משה Mosheh
I AM		h1961	היה hayah
THAT I AM:		h1961	היה hayah
and he said,		h559	אמר ‘amar

And God		h430	אלהים ‘elohiym
said		h559	אמר ‘amar
unto Moses,		h4872	משה Mosheh
I AM		h1961	היה hayah
THAT I AM:		h1961	היה hayah
and he said,		h559	אמר ‘amar
Thus shalt thou say		h559	אמר ‘amar
unto the children		h1121	בן ben
of Israel,		h3478	ישראל Yisra’el
I AM hath sent		h7971	שלח shalach
me unto you.

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Also, as a secondary note, notice that Hayah above, in green, is translated as “I AM.” Actually it means “I SHALL BE.”

יהוה means I am

היה means I shall be

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Back to topic – Elohim vs Yehovah

Elohim is plural

Yehovah is singular.

What I think is happening here is that the Godhead is present, and either the Godhead (Father, Son and Spirit, plural) is speaking, or YHVH (the Son, singular) is speaking.

The Spirit is manifested in the fire, just as He was at Pentecost. He is visible and tangible.

Pentecost is actually a feast day of this event on Sinai.

The Son is manifested as the Angel of the Lord. He is also visible and tangible.

The Father is invisible, but present. His face cannot be seen by man.

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A clue that might suggest that the Angel of the Lord is divine, and not just a heavenly messenger:

Zechariah 3: 1-4

And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

the angel		h4397	מלאך mal’ak
of the LORD,		h3068	יהוה Yĕhovah

And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

And the LORD		h3068	יהוה Yĕhovah
said		h559	אמר ‘amar
unto Satan,		h7854	שטן satan
The LORD		h3068	יהוה Yĕhovah
rebuke		h1605	גער ga`ar

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Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

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And he [angel of the Lord] answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

English (KJV) Strong’s Root Form (Hebrew) Tense And he answered h6030 ענה `anah and spake h559 אמר ‘amar unto those that stood h5975 עמד `amad before h6440 פנים paniym him, saying, h559 אמר ‘amar Take away h5493 סור cuwr the filthy h6674 צאי tsow’ garments h899 בגד beged from him. And unto him he said, h559 אמר ‘amar Behold, h7200 ראה ra’ah I have caused thine iniquity h5771 עון `avon to pass h5674 עבר `abar from thee, and I will clothe h3847 לבש labash thee with change ofraiment. h4254 מחלצות machalatsah

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In the passage above, the Angel of the Lord causes the iniquity of Joshua to “pass away.”

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Only God can do this. Only God can forgive sins.

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If one remembers the gospels and the life of Christ, one will also recall that Yeshua ( Jesus ) also forgave sins.

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For this reason, I propose that Jesus was / is the Malak Yehovah, the Angel of the Lord.

This was his title before he came to earth.