Exodus 3, who was in the burning bush?

[placebofactor]

Exodus 3:2, King James Bible, “The angel (messenger) of the LORD appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire from within the bush.”

Question, “Did the angel of the Lord appear to Moses as he was, or AS a flame of fire?” Answer: He appeared “in a flame of fire,” not “as a flame of fire.” He is present within the flame; the flame is the environment of the appearance, not the angel’s form.

Question: Is the LORD (YHWH) in verse 4 the “angel of the LORD” in verse 2? And in Verse 4, “When the LORD (YHWH) saw that he turned aside to look, God (Elohim) called to him from the midst of the bush.”
Question: Is the LORD and God in verse 4 the same person as the angel of the LORD in verse 2?

The text begins with “the angel of the LORD appeared…”, but when the voice speaks, it is simply “God” and “the LORD.” There was no change of scene, no new character introduced, no explanation. The same presence in the bush is now called “YHWH” and “Elohim.”

I understand that the God and LORD of verse 4 are the same person as the angel of the LORD in verse 2. And yes, each title carries a different theological emphasis.

As the Angel of the LORD, this is God manifested.
As the LORD, “YHWH,” this is his covenant identity, and,
As God, “Elohim,” it speaks of his authority and power. The narrative uses all three to give a fuller picture of who is speaking from the bush.

As for the name “I Am” in verse 14, it sums it all up. “I Am” means God will be what he will be." He will be the angel of the LORD delivering a message. As the LORD, he is speaking of his identity, faithfulness, and that he is and will be. And as God, he is the Creator, Sovereign, and Judge?

As the “I Am,” it sums up all three titles? “I Am” (Ehyeh) in Exodus 3:14 expresses God’s freedom, constancy, and self-determining nature. “He will be what he will be.” He will be whatever the situation requires; he will manifest Himself however He chooses because he is not and will not be defined by man.

Strictly limiting ourselves to what the Bible teaches, what do we know? John 1:18, “No man hath seen God (the Father) at any time.”
John 5:37, “Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” These two verses refer to the Father, as the context makes clear.

So, the Bible teaches that the Father has never been seen, and his voice never heard. So what is the logical conclusion we can draw? Who appeared and spoke to Moses in the bush? And who else holds all the titles of LORD, God, angel of the LORD, and the I Am? The only other divine person the scriptures identify as God, as LORD, as the angel of the LORD, and the I Am, is the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #30]

My answers to your questions are "No" and "Yes," @OneJack.

God the Father through Jesus by the Spirit's power inspired ordinary people like Peter and Paul to write his instructions for our daily lives in the Bible.

However, most of the Jews at that time had come to idolize the law of Moses as their way of pleasing God and earning their way into God's approval. But they rejected Jesus, the God-man, as the only way to get God the Father's approval, as Jesus said to his disciples,

Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

It was the Jews' improper searching of the Scriptures that Jesus was criticizing in John 5, not any searching of them.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #30]

My answers to your questions are "No" and "Yes," @OneJack.

God the Father through Jesus by the Spirit's power inspired ordinary people like Peter and Paul to write his instructions for our daily lives in the Bible.

God the Father is the Almighty God, and His name is Jesus, or Immanuel, or Mighty God, or Eternal Father. Did Peter say God [whose name is Jesus] commanded him to write a scripture for you to opine that God inspired Peter and Paul to write His instructions for our daily lives?

However, most of the Jews at that time had come to idolize the law of Moses as their way of pleasing God and earning their way into God's approval.

The Jews then, and you right now, are on the same train to bibliolatry, which is closely related to idolatry. You clearly see the eye of the needle, yet you fail to see that of the ax's eye. What you're doing right now, Bruce?

But they rejected Jesus, the God-man, as the only way to get God the Father's approval, as Jesus said to his disciples,

Don't you reject the Lord Jesus now, and choose the bible instead? You believe in Jesus through the pages of the bible, making the bible an anchor to Jesus.

Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

It was the Jews' improper searching of the Scriptures that Jesus was criticizing in John 5, not any searching of them.

Same thing with what you're doing right now, Bruce, you search for Jesus in the bible instead of coming directly to Him, real and eternally living, and asking Him for the truth.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #32]

I do not reject the Lord Jesus, @OneJack, but I learn from him through his inspired Word, the Bible. One reason I know that it is inspired is that its history shows the weaknesses of the people's ancestors. No ancient history clearly shows the weaknesses of their ancestors, the way the Bible does. God inspired the Bible to show his perfections and our imperfections to demonstrate that our Source of power is in him, not ourselves. The Bible's history, then, rings true as authentic, mostly because of the witness of the Holy Spirit in his people's lives and minds.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #32]

I do not reject the Lord Jesus, @OneJack, but I learn from him through his inspired Word, the Bible.

You reject the real and eternally living Christ Jesus, who is beside you right now, though you don't see Him yet. What you wanted is the opinion that you fabricated about Jesus in the pages of the bible.

One reason I know that it is inspired is that its history shows the weaknesses of the people's ancestors. No ancient history clearly shows the weaknesses of their ancestors, the way the Bible does. God inspired the Bible to show his perfections and our imperfections to demonstrate that our Source of power is in him, not ourselves. The Bible's history, then, rings true as authentic, mostly because of the witness of the Holy Spirit in his people's lives and minds.

You've heard nothing yet from Jesus; hence, what you're saying about God is nothing but your opinion about Jesus based on the written words in the bible.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #34]

I leave you and your words for God to judge, @OneJack. He will. I have told you the truth; you don't have to believe it, if you don't want to.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #34]

I leave you and your words for God to judge, @OneJack. He will. I have told you the truth; you don't have to believe it, if you don't want to.

Bear in mind, Bruce, the truth resides only in the Lord; hence, if you want the truth, come to and get it from the real and eternally living Christ Jesus, who is always beside you, though we don't see Him yet. You can't tell the truth to others unless you have heard and learned it from the Lord Jesus Christ, not from the bible.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #36]

Not only does he give me ideas and words to write, @OneJack, but he uses the Bible to enlighten my life.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #36]

Not only does he give me ideas and words to write, @OneJack, but he uses the Bible to enlighten my life.

I'm sorry Bruce, your opinion is false. The Lord Himself is the One who enlightens those who come to Him in His terms.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #38]

Yes, he guides me directly, @OneJack, but he also uses his Word to teach me.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #38]

Yes, he guides me directly, @OneJack, but he also uses his Word to teach me.

If the Lord were directly guiding you, you would recognize all the words I have shared with you since they emanate from the Lord. Also, you would be taught by the Lord Himself by His living words [coming out from His mouth] that you would hear and learn from Him. You would also learn from Him that the bible is not the Word of God, per se. He would surely emancipate you from the influence of the bible and teach you to center your faith directly in Him, real and forever living, whom you do not see momentarily.