Sapate Fepueli 26, 2023
מלאך God's
Unique Messenger
KO
E TALAFEKAU FUNGANI ‘A E ‘OTUA
EXODUS 3:2
AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO [MOSES] IN A FLAME OF FIRE OUT OF THE MIDST OF A BUSH. HE LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, THE BUSH WAS BURNING, YET IT WAS NOT CONSUMED.
EXODUS 3:2
Pea na‘e hā kiate ia ‘a e ‘āngelo ‘a Sihova ‘i he loto afi na‘e ulo hake ‘i he vao talatala‘āmoa; pea ne vakai, tā neongo ‘oku vela ‘a e vao talatala‘āmoa ‘i he afi, ka ‘oku ‘ikai keina ai ‘a e talatala‘āmoa
The Hebrew malak, often translated "angel," simply means "messenger." The prophet Haggai was a human malak (1:13). The two messengers sent to Sodom are each an angelic malak (Cen. 19:1). This malak in the burning bush, however, is unique. In the next few verses, he is called both Yahweh and the God of the patriarchs (vv. 4-6). And yet he is still distinct from the Lord, as his messenger. Later, God will say of him, "My name is in him" (Exod. 23:21): that is, my essence, my identity, is shared by him. Jacob too identifies him with the redeeming God (Gen. 48:15-16).
Who is this malak who is distinct from Yahweh yet shares his name, his essence, his power, his Word, his saving actions? He is the Son of God. He did not wait until he became man to visit his people. From the time of Hagar, where he made his first appearance as a malak (Gen. 16:7), he is Emmanuel, God with us. He who is the Word made flesh (John 1:14) was, in the Old Testament, the malak made visible. Christ has never been-nor ever will be-far from his people.
Visit us, O Christ, as you
came to your people of old, with healing in your wings.
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