By Water & Blood

Questions on Exodus 5: The one who appeared in the bush

Some say an angel appeared to Moses in the bush. Who was it that appeared?

The reading of the passage makes clear who appeared: “for there appeared to him,” it says, “an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire from a bush.” And a little later: “And when the Lord saw that he drew near to look, the Lord called him from the bush.” And again shortly after: “And he said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’” And at once it added: “But Moses turned away his face; for he was afraid to look before God.” And it continued: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry,” and what follows. And again: “I am he who is; thus you shall say to the sons of Israel: He who is has sent me to you.” And the whole passage shows that the one who appeared was God.

Yet he also called him an angel, so that we might know that the one who appeared is not God the Father—for of whom would the Father be an angel?—but the only-begotten Son, the “angel of great counsel,” who said to the holy disciples: “Everything that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.” Just as he used the name “angel,” not signifying some subordinate service but indicating the person of the Only-begotten, so again he proclaims both his nature and his authority, saying that he said: “I am he who is, and I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; this is my eternal name, and a memorial for generations of generations.” These things both reveal the divine essence and show what is eternal and everlasting.