Sunday, January 10, 2010

Angels and Fire

Monday, January 11, 2010: Isaiah 6:6–7

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips;

Your iniquity is taken away,

And your sin purged.”

Background: Isaiah (700 B. C.) saw a vision of God on His throne in the year King Uzziah died. The Angels surrounding the throne were Seraphim having six wings. They cried, “Holy, holy, holy…”

What is a live coal from an altar before God’s throne? Holy, and on fire, such a coal is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, doing the will of the Father in sacrifice for purging sins.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010: Ezekiel 10:7–8

And the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out. The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings.

Background: Ezekiel (580 B. C.) saw a vision of the glory of God departing Jerusalem accompanied by cherubim. His prophecy includes the destruction of Jerusalem and its future rebuilding.

How are Cherubs similar yet different from Seraphs? Both have wings but cherubs have a ‘hand’ under their wings and fire among them.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010: Exodus 3:2, 4-5

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

Background: Moses (1450 or 1250 B. C.) sees the ‘burning bush.’

Did Moses see the Angel of the Lord? No, Moses saw the flame, which was the Angel of the Lord, in the bush, which was not burned. However, the place was holy, which meant that God’s presence was there.

Thursday, January 14, 2010: Judges 6:21–22

Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”

Background: The time of the Judges of Israel (1,300 to 1,050 B. C.) was before Kings like David.

What did the Angel of the Lord look like? There was not much to show a difference from man except that the sacrifice was consumed with unearthly fire! Then Gideon knew and was afraid.

Friday, January 15, 2010: Judges 13:19–21

So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on—it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the Lord.

Background: The time of the Judges of Israel (1,300 to 1,050 B. C.) was before the Kings like David and Solomon. The references are about the parents of Samson who were childless till the Angel appeared.

The Angel had appeared to Manoah’s wife and told her about having a son. The next time after Manoah prayed, the Angel appeared and would not tell his name.

What did the Angel do? The Theophany went up to heaven in the fire of the burned offering, and fear fell on Manoah and his wife.

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