Angelic Appearances in Moses' Life and Ministry
Angelic appearances played a significant role in the life and ministry of Moses, particularly at pivotal moments in his calling and leadership. The term "angel" itself, both in Hebrew and Greek, signifies a "messenger" and can refer to various agents God sends forth, including human messengers, prophets, priests, or even impersonal agents like pestilence or wind [3]. However, its distinctive application is to heavenly intelligences who execute God's purposes [3].
One of the most prominent angelic appearances to Moses occurred at the burning bush. The book of Acts explicitly states that "an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai" [1]. This angel was instrumental in God's commissioning of Moses, as Acts 7:35 notes that God sent Moses as a ruler and deliverer "by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush" [2]. While Moses initially "wondered at the sight," a voice of the Lord subsequently spoke to him [4]. The Ramban (Nachmanides), a Jewish commentator, explains that the "angel of the Eternal" appeared first, and then God Himself spoke, suggesting a close connection or even identification between the angel and God's presence [8]. Some interpretations, like that of Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra, suggest that the "elohim" mentioned in the account refers to the angel [8]. Smith's Bible Dictionary notes that "angel of God" or "angel of the Lord" can sometimes denote a manifestation of God Himself, citing the burning bush as an example where Exodus 3:2 with 3:6 and 3:14 shows this connection [6, 7].
Angels continued to be associated with Moses' ministry. God promised to send "an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way" as the Israelites journeyed [9]. This angel was to lead them and bring them into the promised land, with the warning that the people should obey the angel's voice [9]. Angels are understood to be ministering spirits who communicate God's will and execute His purposes and judgments [5].
Later Jewish tradition also speaks of angelic involvement in Moses' life. For instance, the archangel Michael, described as the "champion angel of Israel" [10], is mentioned in Jewish tradition as having contended with the devil over Moses' body [12]. This story, though not in the Old Testament, is preserved in works like the Assumption of Moses [12]. Even after his death, Moses appeared in glory alongside Elijah with Christ during the Transfiguration, an event where some might have mistaken them for angels had their human names not been given [11].
Sources
- Acts “Acts 7:30 (BSB) — After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.”
- Acts ““This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. -- Acts 7:35”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Angel — A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20). It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2 Sam. 24:16, 17; 2 Kings 19:35), the wind (Ps. 104:4). But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government”
- Acts “When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him, -- Acts 7:31”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Angels — Created by God and Christ -- Ne 9:6; Col 1:16. Worship God and Christ -- Ne 9:6; Php 2:9-11; Heb 1:6. Are ministering Spirits -- 1Ki 19:5; Ps 68:17; 104:4; Lu 16:22; Ac 12:7-11; 27:23; Heb 1:7,14. Communicate the will of God and Christ -- Da 8:16,17; 9:21-23; 10:11; 12:6,7; Mt 2:13,20; Lu 1:19,28; Ac 5:20; 8:26; 10:5; 27:23; Re 1:1. Obey the will of God -- Ps 103:20; Mt 6:10. Execute the purposes of God -- Nu 22:22; Ps 103:21; Mt 13:39-42; 28:2; Joh 5:4; Re 5:2. Execute the judgments of God -- 2Sa 24:16; 2Ki 19:35; Ps 35:5,6; Ac 12:23; Re 16:1. Celebrate the”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Angels — By the word "angels" (i.e. "messengers" of God) we ordinarily understand a race of spiritual beings of a nature exalted far above that of man, although infinitely removed from that of God--whose office is "to do him service in heaven, and by his appointment to succor and defend men on earth. I. Scriptural use of the word .--There are many passages in which the expression "angel of God" is certainly used for a manifestation of God himself (Genesis 22:11) with Genesis 22:12 and Exod 3:2 with Exod 3:6 and Exod 3:14 It is to be observed, also, that side by side w”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Angel Of The Lord — (Genesis 16:7) etc. (The special form in which God manifested himself to man, and hence Christ's visible form before the incarnation. Compare (Acts 7:30-38) with the corresponding Old-Testament history; and (Genesis 18:1,13,14,33) and Genesis 19:1)”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 3:2: AND THE ANGEL OF THE ETERNAL APPEARED UNTO HIM IN A FLAME OF FIRE. Because Scripture originally states, And the angel of the Eternal appeared , and then it goes on to say, And when the Eternal saw that he turned aside to see, G-d called unto him , 135 Verse 4. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra explained that elohim mentioned here [in the second verse] is the angel mentioned [in the first], as in the verse, For I have seen ‘elohim’ face to face . 136 Genesis 32:31. The reference there is to an angel. See Ramban on Verses 26 and 30, there. The expression, I am the G-d of”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 23:20: Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way--The communication of these laws, made to Moses and by him rehearsed to the people, was concluded by the addition of many animating promises, intermingled with several solemn warnings that lapses into sin and idolatry would not be tolerated or passed with impunity.”
- Jude (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jude 1:9: Michael, the archangel--Nowhere in Scripture is the plural used, "archangels"; but only ONE, "archangel." The only other passage in the New Testament where it occurs, is Th1 4:16, where Christ is distinguished from the archangel, with whose voice He shall descend to raise the dead; they therefore err who confound Christ with Michael. The name means, Who is like God? In Dan 10:13 he is called "One ('the first,' Margin) of the chief princes." He is the champion angel of Israel. In Rev 12:7 the conflict between Michael and Satan is again alluded to. about ”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 9:30: there talked with him two men . . . Moses and Elias . . . appeared in glory--"Who would have believed these were not angels had not their human names been subjoined?" [BENGEL]. (Compare Act 1:10; Mar 16:5). Moses represented "the law," Elijah "the prophets," and both together the whole testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures, and the Old Testament saints, to Christ; now not borne in a book, but by living men, not to a coming, but a come Messiah, visibly, for they "appeared," and audibly, for they "spake."”
- Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 1:9: 1:9 Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels: In Jewish tradition, “archangel” was the highest rank of angel (see also 1 Thes 4:16). Michael is mentioned several other times in Scripture (Dan 10:13, 21; 12:1; Rev 12:7); the story about him fighting with the devil about Moses’ body is not in the Old Testament but is preserved in Jewish tradition (see Assumption of Moses).”