Exodus 3, who was in the burning bush?

[placebofactor]

Exodus 3:2, King James Bible, “The angel (messenger) of the LORD appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire from within the bush.”

Question, “Did the angel of the Lord appear to Moses as he was, or AS a flame of fire?” Answer: He appeared “in a flame of fire,” not “as a flame of fire.” He is present within the flame; the flame is the environment of the appearance, not the angel’s form.

Question: Is the LORD (YHWH) in verse 4 the “angel of the LORD” in verse 2? And in Verse 4, “When the LORD (YHWH) saw that he turned aside to look, God (Elohim) called to him from the midst of the bush.”
Question: Is the LORD and God in verse 4 the same person as the angel of the LORD in verse 2?

The text begins with “the angel of the LORD appeared…”, but when the voice speaks, it is simply “God” and “the LORD.” There was no change of scene, no new character introduced, no explanation. The same presence in the bush is now called “YHWH” and “Elohim.”

I understand that the God and LORD of verse 4 are the same person as the angel of the LORD in verse 2. And yes, each title carries a different theological emphasis.

As the Angel of the LORD, this is God manifested.
As the LORD, “YHWH,” this is his covenant identity, and,
As God, “Elohim,” it speaks of his authority and power. The narrative uses all three to give a fuller picture of who is speaking from the bush.

As for the name “I Am” in verse 14, it sums it all up. “I Am” means God will be what he will be." He will be the angel of the LORD delivering a message. As the LORD, he is speaking of his identity, faithfulness, and that he is and will be. And as God, he is the Creator, Sovereign, and Judge?

As the “I Am,” it sums up all three titles? “I Am” (Ehyeh) in Exodus 3:14 expresses God’s freedom, constancy, and self-determining nature. “He will be what he will be.” He will be whatever the situation requires; he will manifest Himself however He chooses because he is not and will not be defined by man.

Strictly limiting ourselves to what the Bible teaches, what do we know? John 1:18, “No man hath seen God (the Father) at any time.”
John 5:37, “Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” These two verses refer to the Father, as the context makes clear.

So, the Bible teaches that the Father has never been seen, and his voice never heard. So what is the logical conclusion we can draw? Who appeared and spoke to Moses in the bush? And who else holds all the titles of LORD, God, angel of the LORD, and the I Am? The only other divine person the scriptures identify as God, as LORD, as the angel of the LORD, and the I Am, is the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #19]

Also, you say, @OneJack, that Paul never told people to "to preach the scriptures to" believers. You are completely wrong, and so is your false Jesus:

2Ti 4:1  I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 
2Ti 4:2  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 
2Ti 4:3  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 
2Ti 4:4  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 

I'm very sad that the unbelief described in verses 3 and 4 has happened to you through your false Messiah, but Paul does tell young Pastor Timothy to "preach the word." Thus, your spirit that appeared to you was lying to you.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #19]

@OneJack, so, the choice is between your false Jesus and the Apostle Paul, who persecuted the church when he was known as Saul and who was dramatically transformed to become a preacher of the true Jesus. I choose Paul rather than the one who always disagrees with the Bible. You have not yet answered and responded to Psalms 19 and 119, which also lift up the Scriptures as our basis for faith.

We are all given wisdom of our own for us to use in choosing life over death and damnation; the said wisdom must not be abused by a stubborn mind that only recognizes baseless and unwarranted opinion implanted by someone who taught him what is right and what is not, as far as the right faith in God is at stake. Paul is long gone, and he cannot, in any way, teach you anything today about salvation and eternal life, but the real and eternally living Christ Jesus is always beside you, though you do not see Him momentarily. He can surely teach and guide you to your salvation and eternal life if you come to and call on Him, and listen to Him when He responds.

Psalms 19 is about the lyrics written by King David, and it does not tell us anything about the scripture as the basis of truth or of faith in God. our Your opinion, wittingly or unwittingly, is the one that hums that melody in my ears right now, Bruce.

With your wisdom right now, QUO VADIS, BruceLeiter????????????

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #22]

I now leave you in God's hands, @OneJack.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #22]

I now leave you in God's hands, @OneJack.

How can you leave me in God's hand when you're just confined to the pages of the bible, Bruce? Don't deny your soul the chance to reach out to the Lord Jesus. Come to and call upon the Lord so that He can respond to you, put you in His flock, and guide and shepherd you to your salvation and eternal life, which the bible can't grant to you. Time is running out; try to waste no time in coming to the Lord, Bruce!

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #24]

I'm already there, @OneJack, and I say, Goodbye.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #24]

I'm already there, @OneJack, and I say, Goodbye.

Only in your dreams, Bruce!

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #26]

In reality, @OneJack:

2Pe 1:16  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 
2Pe 1:17  For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 
2Pe 1:18  we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 
2Pe 1:19  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 
2Pe 1:20  knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 
2Pe 1:21  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #26]

In reality, @OneJack:

2Pe 1:16  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 
2Pe 1:17  For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 
2Pe 1:18  we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 
2Pe 1:19  And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 
2Pe 1:20  knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 
2Pe 1:21  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 

Tell me, Bruce, was Peter testifying here to and for the scriptures/Bible or the Lord Jesus Christ? What exactly are you up to by these verses above?

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #28]

@OneJack, you appear to sidestep or ignore the passages that contradict what your false Jesus told you. You know what Peter is saying about the Bible, or you should know. Read them over again and again until they sink in to understand that Peter is agreeing with Paul, who wrote:

2Ti 3:14  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 
2Ti 3:15  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 
2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 
2Ti 3:17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #28]

@OneJack, you appear to sidestep or ignore the passages that contradict what your false Jesus told you. You know what Peter is saying about the Bible, or you should know. Read them over again and again until they sink in to understand that Peter is agreeing with Paul, who wrote:

2Ti 3:14  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 
2Ti 3:15  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 
2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 
2Ti 3:17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

Are you enthroning Peter to a pedestal and dethroning the Lord Jesus to muck and pit? The Lord Jesus has this to say about the bible today, to wit:

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.""

Now, tell me, Bruce, do you find Peter's narrative in your post above 'in agreement' with the Lord's declaration in John 5:39-40 about the scriptures? The Lord Jesus calls on all to come to Him for salvation and eternal life, but you, Bruce, call on all to come to the bible for salvation and eternal life.