Les Feldick teaches that the angel mentioned in Exodus 23 is not a created angel but Jehovah — God the Son, who is revealed as Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
He identifies the "angel of the Lord" throughout the Old Testament as God the Son, based on Jacob's words about "the angel who redeemed me" (Genesis 48:16). Since there is only one Redeemer in Scripture, the angel sent before Israel in Exodus 23 is the same divine Person who appeared to Moses in the burning bush.
Exodus 23:20 — This is the verse in question, where God says He sends an Angel before Israel.
Exodus 23:21 — God says "my name is in him," pointing to the Angel's divine identity.
Genesis 48:16 — Jacob calls the Angel "the one who redeemed me," which Les uses to identify the Angel with the Redeemer, God the Son.
Exodus 23:20-23 records God's promise to Israel: "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." The Angel has divine authority, for God says, "my name is in him" (Exodus 23:21). God then explains what this Angel will do: "For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off" (Exodus 23:23). The passage does not give the Angel a personal name, but it uses the language of divine presence. Elsewhere in Exodus, the same "angel of the LORD" who appears in the burning bush is identified with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:2-6).
Les Feldick consistently identifies "the angel of the Lord" and "the angel of God" in the Old Testament as Jehovah — God the Son. He finds the proof in Genesis 48:16, where Jacob speaks of "the angel who redeemed me." Because Scripture has only one Redeemer, and that Redeemer is Christ, the Angel of the Lord must be God the Son (Clips 1, 2, 6). Les therefore applies this to every Old Testament appearance of the angel of the Lord, including the one before Israel in Exodus 23. Les also points to the burning bush account in Exodus 3 as confirmation. Though the text first says "the angel of the LORD appeared unto him," the same person says, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). Les calls this a theophany — an appearance of God the Son in human form (Clip 7).
Les uses Jacob's words in Genesis 48:16: "the angel who redeemed me." He then points out that there is only one Redeemer in Scripture, and that Redeemer is Christ. Because the Redeemer is God the Son, the angel of the Lord is Jehovah — God the Son. This is the same Person who appears throughout the Old Testament whenever the term "angel of the Lord" is used.
In Exodus 3:2, the angel of the LORD appears in a flame of fire. In the same account, the LORD speaks to Moses and says, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). Les concludes that the one in the bush is Jehovah, God the Son — not a created angel. He also notes that even though this Person is called "the angel of the Lord," He is also called God.
According to Les, no. He teaches that "the angel of the Lord, or the angel of God, is always Jehovah, or it's God the Son, in another theophany." Since the Exodus 23 passage uses the same "angel of the Lord" language, the Angel sent before Israel is not an ordinary created angel but God the Son Himself.
Why Israel Failed to Enter the Promised Land (Exodus 23 & Deut 1)
are interested in getting it in print, so contact us and we'll get it. And it'll be larger print. This first one was too small a print, and we're making corrections as we go. All right, now then, let's get back into the book, back to Exodus once again. And now that the law has been given, and of course, man being what he is, even Israel, they're going to be shortly breaking it.
The Redeeming Angel of Genesis 48:16
Les identifies Jacob's "angel who redeemed me" as the Redeemer, explaining that this angel is always the second person of the Trinity — God the Son — and is the one in the burning bush.
The Angel of the Lord Is Jehovah
Les repeats the rule that whenever the Bible says "angel of the Lord" or "angel of God," it refers to God the Son, the one Redeemer.
Jehovah Speaks From the Burning Bush
Les explains that the LORD (Jehovah) speaking out of the bush is God the Son, Jesus the Christ, confirming that the angel of the Lord in Exodus 3 is divine.
Genesis 48 as the Key to the Angel of the Lord
Les turns listeners to Jacob's words in Genesis 48 to prove beyond doubt who the angel of the Lord is before returning to Exodus 3.
The Angel of the Lord Is Also Called God
Even though the Person is called the angel of the Lord, He is also called God; Les stresses that Christ is God, and it is Christ who speaks to Moses.
Only One Redeemer
Les states that there is only one Redeemer, God the Son, and that whenever the Old Testament mentions the angel of the Lord, it is Christ in another appearance.
A Theophany of God the Son
Les defines the angel of the Lord as God the Son appearing in human form, calling it a theophany.
Exodus 23:20: Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
This is the key verse of the question: God sends an Angel before Israel.
Exodus 23:21: Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not: for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
God's name being in the Angel points to the Angel's divine identity.
Exodus 23:23: For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
This shows the Angel's role in leading Israel into the Promised Land.
Genesis 48:16: The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Jacob calls the Angel his Redeemer, the verse Les uses to identify the Angel as God the Son.
Exodus 3:2: And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
The same "angel of the Lord" appears to Moses in the burning bush.
Exodus 3:6: Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
The angel of the Lord identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealing His divine identity.
No, according to Les Feldick, the angel of the Lord or angel of God is always Jehovah — God the Son — not a created angel. He bases this on Jacob's reference to "the angel who redeemed me" in Genesis 48:16, and since there is only one Redeemer in Scripture, that Redeemer is Christ.
He points to Genesis 48:16, where Jacob calls the angel "the angel which redeemed me." Since Scripture has only one Redeemer, and that Redeemer is God the Son, the angel of the Lord must be Jehovah — the same divine Person who appeared in the burning bush and who is called Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
Exodus 23 does not give the Angel a personal name, but it says "my name is in him" (Exodus 23:21). In the burning bush, the angel of the LORD appears and then is identified as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:2-6). Les uses this to show that the angel is God the Son.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Enter the Promised Land (Exodus 23 & Deut 1)