Exodus 23:20-33- The Angel of the Lord

We all want direction. When you want to please God, you’ll follow, you just want to know!

Today we see God giving directions to Israel- How to get there- God can do the same for you!

1. The Nature of the Angel of the Lord: Who is he and why does it matter?

• In Exodus 23:20-21, God says, “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.”
• This passage indicates several important things about the Angel of the Lord:
• Authority: The Angel of the Lord has the authority to guide, protect, and lead Israel to the Promised Land. The command to “obey his voice” says this Angel speaks with divine authority.
• Forgiveness: The statement “he will not pardon your transgression” shows that this Angel has the power to forgive or withhold forgiveness, a power that belongs to God alone (Mark 2:7).
• God’s Name: The phrase “for my name is in him” shows that the Angel carries the very essence and authority of God Himself. “his Glory he will not share with another”. 
• Notice the language of the second part of the scriptures- if you obey, I speak, I will, I will send, I will drive, I will set, I will deliver, 
• The Language is that God is doing it, not the angel, But if it is the Angel, it is God doing it. Its him

2. The Identity of the Angel of the Lord: Lets look in a few other passages. 

• In OT “Angel of the Lord” appears other places, often in contexts where God Himself is present:
• Hagar’s Encounter (Genesis 16:7-13): The Angel of the Lord appears to Hagar and Hagar refers to Him as “the God who sees me” -a manifestation of God.
• Abraham’s Test (Genesis 22:11-12): about to sacrifice Isaac, the Angel of the Lord calls out to him, stopping him. The Angel speaks in the first person as God: “I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (He was sacrificing to God)
• Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:2-6): The Angel of the Lord appears to Moses in the burning bush, and the text identifies this Angel with God, as He says, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
• You can see from these three instances- the Angel of the Lord is understood as God himself. 
• same pattern can be seen in Balaam (Nu 22) Gideon (Jud 6), Elijah (1 Ki 19), and David (1 Chr 21)
• This recurring pattern in Scripture suggests that the authors are deliberately portraying this figure as a complex and multifaceted being. Something mysterious. Hard to define or explain. 
• By doing so, they invite readers to engage deeply with the text, encouraging exploration and reflection. This technique is characteristic of all great storytelling! The Bible is complex! 
• The biblical authors are masterful literary craftsmen, and the intricate depiction of the Angel of the Lord is a prime example of their skill. So much could be clearer, but it draws us in closer!

3. The Angel of the Lord as a Theophany:

• Many scholars and theologians believe that the Angel of the Lord in these passages is a theophany, a visible manifestation of God Himself. We saw authority, direction, manifestation
• In Christian theology, this figure is often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, the second Person of the Trinity. This interpretation is based on several points:
• Divine Authority: The Angel of the Lord exercises divine prerogatives, such as the power to forgive sins and to speak in God’s name.
• God’s Presence: The Angel is identified with God’s presence and acts as His direct representative on earth.
• Trinitarian Perspective: In light of New Testament revelation, where Jesus is understood as the Word of God who has always existed with the Father (John 1:1-14), the Angel of the Lord is often seen as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.
• In Exodus 23, the Angel of the Lord is presented as a divine figure who bears God’s name, authority, and power. While the Old Testament does not explicitly identify the Angel of the Lord as the pre-incarnate Christ, the attributes and actions of this Angel strongly suggest a manifestation of God’s presence, making this Angel more than just a created being.
• In the context of the entire Bible, the Angel of the Lord is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate guide, protector, and redeemer of God’s people.

So what can we get from this- 

1. The Promise of Divine Guidance (v. 20-21):

• • The Angel of the Lord is sent by God, Ahead of the Israelites, to guard and lead them. 
  • As a Nation, Moses is inadequate to be able to lead them on his own. God must lead
  • No different here. Any pastor isn’t enough. Jesus must lead his church and we must follow
  • The Angel is not just a messenger, but carries the very name and presence of God. 
  • God says, “Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.” We’re only supposed to follow YHWH
  • This is a clear reminder that God Himself is leading His people, not just through signs or wonders, but through His very presence. If you follow, I will lead you! 
  • this is an encouragement to trust in the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised would guide us into all truth and remind us of everything He has taught us.
  • John 16:13: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

• How do we do that though?

• Broken record time- Read your Bible. Do what it says. God shows you ways in which you can go
• When you are at a cross roads trying to understand what you should do- stick with Bible. 
• This is why when things don’t line up with your desires, you do the Bible way
• You want to break Gods commands, go against scriptures, satisfy your flesh. STICK WITH GOD
• Time after time I see people who Go against scripture and say God is leading? No. Its you. 
• Psa 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”
• Here’s the other part though- You have to have a spiritual walk with God
• Isaiah 30:21: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”
• This is spiritual maturity here- if it doesn’t line up with God’s word, its not of God, but God can speak things to you to Guide you, you just need to listen. 
• Ac 13:4 being sent out by the Holy Spirit, Ac 15:28 it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us,
• Heads up- When the HS speaks, its typically to do more, be more, give more, sacrifice more, work harder, stay longer, think of self more, die to flesh, pick up your cross. 
• It’s rarely to quit, move on, go the easy route, get what your flesh wanted, bless you. Rarely
• You learn to hear what the voice of the HS sounds like, and if you do? It changes you. 
• Isaiah 58:11: “The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
• This is a promise of Guidance. For Israel, for you, for me. He guides us. He shows us
• Psalm 48:14: “For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.”
• And here’s the deal- sometimes you have to step out in faith and see if it’s God, but don’t do that on a marriage or a large debt. Test it out on tithing and being generous. 

2. 2. The Call to Obedience (v. 22-24):

• • Following the promise of guidance, God places a condition: “If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.” “I will cut them off” 

• Obedience is the key to unlocking God’s protection and provision. 

• Listen carefully- he says. Do all that I say. No half heartedness. Only full hearted submission. 
• It seems like we talk a bit about obedience here, and its probably because it comes up in scripture quite often. It is not an outlandish fringe theology. It is central to Christianity
• John 14:23: “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'”
• Do you know who walks with God and knows him? The obedient. They experience God
• This idea of obedience is a curve of the story that runs all throughout the scriptures, and what it repeatedly shows is that obedience brings blessings, and disobedience brings destruction. 
• Deuteronomy 5:33: “You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”
• The Israelites are called to reject the practices and gods of the nations they will encounter, to worship the Lord alone.
• Worship is obedience. You pray and ask that your heart would be changed, but you do it. 
• 24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.
• 25 “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
• You’re not Israel, but the principle still remains. Don’t serve other Gods, you get blessed. 
• Funny how we set a much higher bar for blessing. OT- Bread, water, health. Today? Car, house, job, riches, vacations, stuff etc. What does it really take? How much do you need to experience?
• Psalm 128:1-2: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.”
• This call to obedience is as relevant today as it was then. In a world full of distractions and temptations, we are reminded that our loyalty must be to God alone.
• When we obey His commands, He promises to fight our battles, to be an enemy to our enemies. Victory comes through obedience. And obedience isn’t a heart condition. You can do what you are supposed 

3. We have Assurance of God’s Promises (v. 25-31):

• • God then lists the blessings that will follow their obedience: health, fruitfulness, long life, and the driving out of their enemies. Protection of boundaries
  • Don’t miss this. The blessings of God and the promises of God are a real thing. 
  • Deuteronomy 28:2: “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
  • James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
  • Yes- There are challenges to being a Christian. There is persecution and suffering. There are hard times and frustrating times. This doesn’t negate the overall blessings of God. 
  • But what I’ve seen is that most of my tribulations are of my own doing and choices. 
  • I love this scripture- 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land.
  • These blessings are tied directly to their covenant relationship with God. 

• The promise of driving out the nations “little by little” taught them patience in blessings. 

• God’s timing is perfect; He knows what we can handle and when we are ready to receive His promises in full. He is driving out those nations in your life little by little. 
• Who can testify that God is always right on time and that he takes his time to bless
• For us, these promises are a picture of the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10. 
• “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
• While we may not always see immediate results, God is at work, driving out the “enemies” in our lives—whether they be sin, fear, or doubt—little by little. Our task is to remain faithful and patient, trusting in His perfect timing.
• Friend, Hold on to the promises of God. They will show up in due season. HE will do it. 
• This is the blessing of walking with Israel. We see hundreds of years unfolding blessings. 
• My mom been doing ancestry- I have preachers in my bloodline. What did they pray for me?

4. Final Warning Against Compromise (v. 32):

• The passage closes with a stern warning: “Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods.” God knew that compromising with the surrounding nations would lead Israel away from Him. 
• This serves as a powerful reminder for us today. Compromise with the world, with sin, with anything that takes us away from God, is dangerous. It leads to spiritual downfall.
• Deuteronomy 7:2: you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. Judges 2:2: you shall tear down their altars.  Joshua 23:13: they shall be snares and traps to you
• 2 Co 6 what communion has light with darkness? what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 
• When God delivers us and sets us free, we FLEE from the past. We FLEE from false Gods
• “If you’re not in it, I don’t want it, let all else slip away”. I want that to be my heart cry!
• Lets not go back to the beggarly elements that we’ve been delivered from