I have a question for the bloggers here that is very peculiar to me. In Joshua 5:13-15, we meet the famous “Commander of the army of the LORD.” Knowing that in Revelation that angels do not accept worship, is this possibly a pre-incarnate Christophany?
Also look at Melchizedek in Hebrews 7 and in Genesis 14:17-24. Do you think that this man was a pre-incarnate Christophany?
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3 Comments
You know, I think so. I would be interested in how Jews would explain these occurances. They might just say that they are theophany, rather than Christophany.
I think that one almost has to assume that this was God on Earth in a bodily or the appearance of bodily form.
I just spoke with a person in the department that is quite knowledgeable on these matters, much moreso than I and he said that while the Hebrews of the era did not have a well developed angelology, it is quite possible, that worship is loosely used here and might just mean that he was giving reverence of the messenger.
He maintained that the point of the passage was Joshua having his “Moses moment” like that of the burning bush.
Very interesting question.
Here is the thing about Joshua. My OT prof said that many angels accepted worship on behalf of God. He feels that what many people call a Christiophany in the Old Testament is usually an angelophany. That a messenger of GOd was there, nothing more. He feels that his what is happening in Joshua.
Interestingly enough. He walked me through Hebrews 7 and showed me that the text actually says that Jesus is “like” Melchizedek and not actually the priest from Abraham’s day. Jesus is in the order that he was apart of to be a priest that was not levitical. Melchizedek was to demonstrate Christ’s eternal priesthood. I had never really given it any thought until of late.