What if the Old Testament is not a separate story with a different God, but rather the opening chapters of the same story we find in the Gospels? This sermon invites us into a fascinating exploration of a mysterious figure who appears at least fifteen times throughout the Old Testament, a being known as the Angel of the Lord. Unlike any other angel in Scripture, this figure speaks with divine authority, accepts worship, carries the name of Yahweh, and holds the power to forgive sins. From the wilderness encounter with Hagar to the protection of Israel at the Red Sea, we see a presence that does not merely point to God but acts as God. The central passages in Exodus 23 and Judges 2 reveal something remarkable: this angel claims to be the one who brought Israel out of Egypt, made promises to their fathers, and holds the sovereign prerogative over their blessing or discipline. When we place these passages alongside the New Testament, a compelling case emerges that what we are witnessing is Jesus himself, present and active in history long before Bethlehem. This series challenges us to read the Old Testament not as a prequel we can skip, but as the essential foundation that gives full meaning to everything we know about Jesus.
