WHO IS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD? THE EXODUS 3 MYSTERY AT THE BURNING BUSH EXPLAINED

There's a moment in Exodus 3 that has puzzled theologians, scholars, and everyday Bible readers for thousands of years.

Moses stands before a bush that burns but isn't consumed. A voice speaks. And here's where it gets mysterious: the text tells us it's the "Angel of the Lord" appearing in the flames, yet this angel speaks as God, identifies Himself as God, and claims the divine name "I AM."

So who is the Angel of the Lord? Is this a heavenly messenger? God Himself? Or something else entirely?

Let's unpack this ancient mystery together.

Setting the Scene: A Shepherd Encounters the Divine

Before we dive into the theological depths, let's ground ourselves in the story.

Moses wasn't exactly living his best life at this point. Once a prince of Egypt, he'd fled after killing an Egyptian and spent the last forty years as a shepherd in Midian. He was tending his father-in-law's flock near Mount Horeb when everything changed.

Exodus 3:2 tells us: "The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush."

Moses noticed something strange: the bush was on fire, but it wasn't burning up. Curious, he approached. And then came the voice.

"Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).

This command in Exodus 3:5 reveals something crucial. This wasn't just an angelic messenger delivering a memo from heaven. The very ground had become holy because of the presence within that burning bush.

The Paradox That Changes Everything

Here's what makes this encounter so fascinating.

The text clearly says "the angel of the Lord" appeared to Moses. We'd expect an angel to say something like, "God sent me to tell you..." That's what normal angels do throughout Scripture: they point to God, deliver His messages, and deflect any glory away from themselves.

But this angel does something completely different.

He speaks in the first person as God:

• "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6)
• "I have indeed seen the misery of my people" (Exodus 3:7)
• "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14)

Notice what's happening here. The angel of the Lord doesn't say "God has seen" or "the Lord says." He says "I have seen." He claims the sacred, unutterable name of Yahweh: I AM: as His own identity.

This is the paradox at the heart of the burning bush: a figure who is simultaneously described as an angel sent by God and yet speaks with the full authority and identity of God Himself.

Who Is the Angel of the Lord? Three Major Perspectives

Scholars and believers have wrestled with this question for millennia. Let's look at the main interpretations.

1. A Pre-Incarnate Appearance of Christ

This is the most common view among Christian theologians throughout church history.

The reasoning goes like this: The Angel of the Lord displays divine attributes that belong to God alone. He demonstrates:

• Omniscience : knowing the suffering of Israel in Egypt
• Omnipotence : promising to display miraculous power
• Omnipresence : assuring Moses "I will be with you"

He also forgives sins (a divine prerogative) and accepts worship (something regular angels consistently refuse). In Exodus 23:20-21, God says this angel carries His name "in him": a remarkable statement suggesting shared divine identity.

For many Christians, this points to Jesus Christ appearing before His incarnation. The Angel of the Lord serves as a mediator between God and humanity: the same role Christ fulfills in the New Testament.

2. A Manifestation of God's Presence

Some scholars view the Angel of the Lord as a way God makes Himself visible and approachable to humans. Since "no one can see God and live," this angelic form allows for divine encounters without overwhelming human beings.

In this view, the angel isn't a separate person but rather God Himself in a form humans can perceive.

3. A Unique Angelic Being

A smaller number of interpreters see this as a special angel: perhaps the highest of all angels: who bears God's name and authority in a unique way.

However, this view struggles to explain why the angel accepts worship and speaks as "I AM," things no created being should do according to Scripture.

What Makes This Angel Different From All Others?

Throughout the Bible, we see clear distinctions between the Angel of the Lord and other angelic beings.

Regular angels:

• Speak about God in the third person ("The Lord says...")
• Refuse worship (see Revelation 19:10, 22:8-9)
• Identify themselves by name or role, not as God
• Deliver messages and depart

The Angel of the Lord:

• Speaks as God in the first person ("I AM...")
• Accepts worship from those who encounter Him
• Bears the divine name within Himself
• Exercises divine authority to forgive or judge

This isn't just a messenger with a particularly important assignment. This is something: or Someone: entirely different.

The Burning Bush: A Window Into Divine Mystery

What can we take away from this ancient encounter?

First, it reminds us that God meets people in unexpected places. Moses wasn't in a temple. He wasn't at a sacred site. He was doing his ordinary job in the middle of nowhere when heaven broke through.

Second, it shows us that divine encounters demand response. When Moses realized who he was dealing with, he hid his face and removed his sandals. Holy ground requires holy response.

Third, it invites us into mystery. We don't have to resolve every theological question to encounter God. Moses didn't fully understand who was speaking to him, yet he responded in faith and obedience.

If you want to explore this transformative moment further, check out our visual recreation of Moses and the Burning Bush. Sometimes seeing these scenes brought to life helps us grasp what words alone can't capture.

Your Own Burning Bush Moment

Here's something worth considering.

The same God who appeared to Moses in that mysterious flame is still speaking today. Maybe not through burning bushes: but through Scripture, through circumstances, through that persistent nudge in your spirit you keep trying to ignore.

Moses could have walked past the bush. He could have written it off as a strange desert phenomenon and kept moving. Instead, he turned aside to look. And that decision changed everything.

What might God be trying to show you that you've been too busy to notice?

The Angel of the Lord: whether you see Him as the pre-incarnate Christ, a theophany, or a divine mystery beyond our categories: represents something profound: God doesn't stay distant. He comes near. He speaks. He calls ordinary people to extraordinary purposes.

The Mystery Remains: And That's Okay

We may never fully resolve who the Angel of the Lord is this side of eternity.

And honestly? That might be the point.

Some truths are meant to draw us deeper rather than be solved like equations. The burning bush encounter invites us to stand in awe, remove our sandals, and recognize that we're dealing with a God who defies our neat categories.

Whether you see Exodus 3 as an early appearance of Christ, a unique manifestation of the Father, or a mystery to hold with open hands: one thing is clear.

The God who met Moses in that wilderness is the same God who wants to meet you. Not to confuse you with theological puzzles, but to call you by name, reveal His character, and invite you into His purposes.

The bush is still burning. The question is: will you turn aside to see?