Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Isaiah 6

In the Theophonies, the Lord revealed God and His glory and that there was a vision of Christ, which is verified by John. Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (see Colossians 1). In John 12:41 he says, “These things said Isaiah, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him.” It was when Uzziah died that Isaiah saw “the Lord high and lifted up.” For this text, note 2 Chronicles 26, which describes Uzziah’s rise and fall.

The Appearance to Abraham

In Genesis 22, Abraham took the knife to slay Isaac. The angel of the Lord called to Him saying, “Thou hast not withheld thy son from Me, thine only son.” There were those kind of appearances in Jacob’s life:

(1) At Bethel he saw one in his dream who said, “I am the Lord God of Abraham, and behold I am with thee.” See Genesis 22:11-22.

(2) In Genesis 31:11-13, the one whom Jacob called “the Angel of the Lord” appeared to him and said, “I am the God of Bethel.”

(3) This experience was at Peniel in Genesis 32. The angel with whom he wrestles is described as God. After the experience Jacob says, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

The Appearance to the Children of Israel

The children of Israel experience a similar appearance. In Exodus 13:21 we see that “the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud.” Again in Exodus 14:19 we see that “The Angel of the Lord which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them.”

The Appearance to Manasseh and his Wife