Encountering the Angel of the Lord - what is it all about?

In our The God Who Sees series we have been encountering God in some of the most human and vulnerable places in the Bible. Two weeks ago we watched Hagar in the wilderness, alone and afraid, meet the Angel of the Lord who sees her. Last week before we stood with Moses at the burning bush and saw that same divine presence that does not simply speak for God but is God to Moses. In both scenes, God shows himself to those who are afraid, confused or uncertain about their purpose. He is not distant. He sees. He knows. He calls.

These appearances invite us to think about the strange and beautiful language of the Bible where God’s presence shows up in a figure called the Angel of the Lord. This character is not just a messenger. In Scripture he speaks as God, calls people into relationship with the God who sees them and sends them into mission. These moments point to the richer biblical picture of a divine reality that is dynamic and relational, not far off or disconnected from life’s struggles.

If this language feels unfamiliar, you are not alone. A great place to explore this further is the BibleProject video on the Angel of the Lord and the wider divine council. It brings clarity to how the Bible portrays God’s engagement with both heaven and earth, and how that points forward to Jesus. You can watch it here:https://bibleproject.com/videos/angel-lord/

We are building on this theme in The God Who Sees series. You can find more teaching, and audio from the whole series here:https://www.emmanuelplymouth.co.uk/sermon-series-the-god-who-sees

As we reflect on Hagar’s fear and Moses’ wonder, we discover a God who does not hide himself from his people. He sees us in our wilderness, speaks into our confusion and invites us into his purpose. Ultimately, this points us to Jesus, the full revelation of God who sees us and walks with us and calls us to join him in his mission.