Muslim Responses to my comment:
Thanks for sharing your view. But let’s take a closer look at those verses. Exodus 23:20 and Judges 2:1 mention an “angel” or “messenger” of the LORD, but there’s no indication that this angel is Jesus. The Hebrew word used is malakh, which simply means “messenger,” and it’s used throughout the Old Testament for all kinds of beings — including prophets, humans, and heavenly angels. Nothing in those verses identifies the angel as Jesus specifically.
In Judges 2:1, the angel speaks on behalf of God, which actually shows he’s representing God, not that he is God. Speaking for someone doesn’t mean you are that person. Also, if Jesus was really the one leading Israel out of Egypt, wouldn’t he or the prophets have said that clearly in the New Testament? But there’s no verse where Jesus ever makes that claim himself.
It feels like your interpretation is being read into the text rather than coming from it. It’s interesting, but without clear scriptural evidence, it’s more theological guesswork than solid proof. [PixelMistakePicasso]
there’s nothing here that links to Jesus. I hope you are not making the mistake of referring to Jesus as Lord used in those verses? [Muniru Adebambo]
My Response:
PixelMistakePicasso I tried to keep my comment above very direct and short. I cannot fault you and others, including my valued friend, Muniru Adebambo, for not appreciating and acknowledging the strength of the evidence represented by my citation of Exodus 23:20 with Judges 2:1.
These two verses, to be fully understood, must be studied in the light of what the rest of the Bible teaches about the subjects they contain. This is so because the full truth about any subject taught in the Bible is not usually taught all at once in one place (whether verse or chapter or even single book). To learn the correct answer to our questions we must carefully consider all the Bible teaches about the question or subject. This is sometimes spoken of as taking into account “the whole counsel of Scripture” (Acts 20:27).
That is why I concluded my last comment by saying:
A study of the cross references I have given in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury will enable any Bible reader to trace the abundant evidence in the Bible itself which establishes the truth of my claim.
In this process of careful study of Scripture we must be alert to any Figures of Speech the Bible makes use of. In a study of Exodus 23:20 there is an important Figure of Speech involving the key word “Angel.”
In the cross references for Exodus 23:20 I have identified the Figure of Speech involved with the designation “FS171E12.”
Exo 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
From the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury on the key word “Angel”:
Angel. FS171E12, +Gen 48:16. Exo 23:23, +**Exo 3:2 note, Exo 3:6; *Exo 14:19; Exo 32:34; *Exo 33:2; *Exo 33:14, +**Gen 22:15 note. Gen 24:7; Gen 24:40; *Gen 48:16, Num 20:16; Num 22:23, +*Jos 5:13; +*Jos 5:14; Jos 6:2, +*Jdg 2:1; *Jdg 6:11; *Jdg 6:12; *Jdg 6:14, 15, 16; *Jdg 6:20; *Jdg 6:21; *Jdg 6:23, 1Ch 21:16, Psa 91:11, +*Isa 63:9, Dan 3:25 note. Zec 1:12; Zec 3:1; Zec 3:6; *+Zec 12:8, >Mal 3:1, >Mat 11:10, >Mrk 1:2, >Luk 7:27, *Jhn 1:18, *Act 7:35; *Act 7:38, *1Co 10:9; *1Co 10:10.
Using the Figure of Speech Index for FS171E12 leads to its explanation with further examples of the same Figure at Genesis 48:16,
Gen 48:16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
The Angel. FS171E12, Synecdoche of the Species F/S 622, A common name is put for a proper one. A name common to many is used of one par excellence. For other instances of this figure see Exo 3:2; Exo 23:20, Jdg 6:11, Mat 21:3; Mat 22:24, Jhn 11:3; Jhn 11:12; Jhn 11:28.
Here are the Bible references cited:
Exodus 3:2
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.
King James Version
Exodus 23:20
20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
King James Version
Judges 6:11
11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
King James Version
Matthew 21:3
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
King James Version
Matthew 22:24
24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
King James Version
John 11:3
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
King James Version
John 11:12
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
King James Version
John 11:28
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
King James Version
I am reminded of what Jesus said as recorded at John 13:13,
John 13:13
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
King James Version
And in this very connection, of what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:3,
1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Here is the explanatory note I have supplied in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for the key words “the Lord” at 1 Corinthians 12:3,
the Lord. The word kurios, Lord, is that by which the word Jehovah is commonly rendered in the Greek version of the Old Testament. To say Jesus is the Lord, therefore, in the sense of the apostle, is to acknowledge him to be truly God. No one can truly believe and openly confess that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh unless he is enlightened by the Spirit of God (Hodge). Thus only those enlightened by the Holy Spirit can recognize Jesus as Jehovah. Belief in the full deity of the Lord Jesus is the positive test of orthodoxy given by the apostle. **1Co 2:8; **1Co 15:47, +*Neh 9:6, *Mat 7:21, 22, 23, *Luk 6:46, +*Jhn 8:24; +**Jhn 20:28, +**Act 10:37; Act 11:21 note. **Rom 10:9; **Rom 10:10, 2Co 4:5, Php 2:11, +**1Pe 2:3 note with >Psa 34:8.
Anyone who has carefully read the Bible all the way through often enough so as to have a basic understanding of its contents will immediately recognize the correctness of the connections within its text that I have just now shared with you. May the Lord grant you that understanding too.