God takes human form

[Holdinfourth]

In my most recent readings I have come across something that spraked some interest to me. Read through Genesis chapter 3,and also chapter 18. In chapter 3 it says " they heard the Lord walking through the garden" and in chapter 18 without going into to much depth, It says that the Lord spoke to Abraham and was with 2 other men. As the Lord stayed to talk with Abraham the 2 other men went on the the city of Sodom to destroy it.

My question is: How many times did God take human form to talk to his chosen leaders. Just a interesting topic. Did he really take human form and reveal himslf as one of us to Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Jacob (when he wrestled with the angel)?

Any help on this topic would be great.

 

[88Devin07]

Yes, there are many people, including me, who believe God took human form (although wasn't as human as he was when he was actually born) before he was born of the Virgin Mary.

He took human form before, however he wasn't really "human" at the time, he was in the image of a human.

But yes, it was the Son. The Word, who has existed before even the world began

 

[Dmckay]

In my most recent readings I have come across something that spraked some interest to me. Read through Genesis chapter 3,and also chapter 18. In chapter 3 it says " they heard the Lord walking through the garden" and in chapter 18 without going into to much depth, It says that the Lord spoke to Abraham and was with 2 other men. As the Lord stayed to talk with Abraham the 2 other men went on the the city of Sodom to destroy it.

My question is: How many times did God take human form to talk to his chosen leaders. Just a interesting topic. Did he really take human form and reveal himslf as one of us to Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Jacob (when he wrestled with the angel)?

Any help on this topic would be great.

More than likely, a large number, if not all references to appearances of the Angel of the Lord, and of G-d to man in the Old Testament are in actuality Christophanies or physical manifestations of Jesus in bodily form before He came in Bethlehem.

Scripture specifically says no man hath seen the Father at any time, The Son hath revealed Him. The G-d of the Old Testament was Jesus, not the Father.

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

There is a lot of speculation as to just who these "men" were in the OT that appeared at various times. I personally believe that they were all angels of the Lord, although I am probably in the minority. Only the Son has seen the father, and we see reference to Jesus descending once and ascending once. We see in the NT that this is where He was revealed and it was in the "fullness of time".

Now, the only problem I have with what I believe is that God is NOT in time, and Jesus could have easily stepped "back in time" and then these men would be Christophanies.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[Dmckay]

Greetings,

There is a lot of speculation as to just who these "men" were in the OT that appeared at various times. I personally believe that they were all angels of the Lord, although I am probably in the minority. Only the Son has seen the father, and we see reference to Jesus descending once and ascending once. We see in the NT that this is where He was revealed and it was in the "fullness of time".

Now, the only problem I have with what I believe is that God is NOT in time, and Jesus could have easily stepped "back in time" and then these men would be Christophanies.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

I agree with your statement that that they were all probably Angels of the Lord. Angels being messengers. And on the occasion mentioned earlier, the three visitors to Abraham, two of the visitors were obviously angels. However, I think that there is pretty good reason that most commentators and theologians believe that "Angel of the Lord" usually refers to a Christophany.

I personally think that there are many occurances that can't be nailed downed for certainty. The details in some of the occurances aren't conclusive enough to decide either way. But, then, since in either case we are either talking about a preincarnate appearence of Christ, or a divinely sent Messenger the results are still that G-d's will is accomplished,

 

[deu58]

Hi Dad Ernie

Greetings,

There is a lot of speculation as to just who these "men" were in the OT that appeared at various times. I personally believe that they were all angels of the Lord, although I am probably in the minority. Only the Son has seen the father, and we see reference to Jesus descending once and ascending once. We see in the NT that this is where He was revealed and it was in the "fullness of time".

Now, the only problem I have with what I believe is that God is NOT in time, and Jesus could have easily stepped "back in time" and then these men would be Christophanies.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

Could it be what being revealed means that he had not yet been revealed as the saviour of the world????

Also it seems that his apperance may not have been the same as when he came as Jesus because Abraham immediatly was aware of who he was,

yours in Christ
deu58

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Deu58,

Could it be what being revealed means that he had not yet been revealed as the saviour of the world????

If such were the case, do you think Jesus as a Christophany looked the same as when He ministered in Israel? I personally can't imagine that.

Also it seems that his apperance may not have been the same as when he came as Jesus because Abraham immediatly was aware of who he was,

When anyone has their "spiritual eyes" opened, they see and recognize those things of the "spirit realm" which is beyond the capability of a normal person such as Gehazi. Common parlance in those days was to address a person, especially those in a superior position as "lord" or "my lord", so I don't see the address as pertaining to the Father or the Son necessarily.

2 Kings 6:15-17 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[Toms777]

In my most recent readings I have come across something that spraked some interest to me. Read through Genesis chapter 3,and also chapter 18. In chapter 3 it says " they heard the Lord walking through the garden" and in chapter 18 without going into to much depth, It says that the Lord spoke to Abraham and was with 2 other men. As the Lord stayed to talk with Abraham the 2 other men went on the the city of Sodom to destroy it.

My question is: How many times did God take human form to talk to his chosen leaders. Just a interesting topic. Did he really take human form and reveal himslf as one of us to Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Jacob (when he wrestled with the angel)?

Any help on this topic would be great.

There are many times throughout the OT that God is seen. Look up the Angel of the Lord and "The Word" (which by the way, identifies Jesus as the person of the trinity who was seen in the OT). Note that God the Father was not seen. The Father was unqiue in that regard. Jesus was seen through the OT and into the NT and the Holy Spirit was seen at the baptism of Jesus, but the Father was never see. So in John 1:1, when John said that Jesus was "the Word", he was telling the Jews pf that day that the person who walked and spoke with men in the OT as the Word was in fact the very same person, Jesus who came manifest in the flesh and died on the cross.