When Israel was in slavery, God promises Moses that He would deliver them from the power of Egypt in [Exodus 3:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.8),[17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.17) and again in passages like [Exodus 6:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.6.6). > [!bible]+ [Exodus 3:8 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/3/) > 8. and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. > [!bible]+ [Exodus 3:17 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/3/) > 17. and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ This word translated **come down** in [Exodus 3:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.8) is the word translated **_came down_** [Genesis 11:5](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.11.5) in Gods response to the tower of Babel, and **_go down_** in [Genesis 18:21](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.18.21) to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. When ever it is used in relationship to God, it indicates direct action is about to follow—God is going to intervene in the affairs of men ([The Bible Unwrapped](https://paperpile.com/app/p/de52d411-eb77-07cf-a083-19b9cf2a6a8e 'The Angel YHWH and Moses')) and we see this happen in [Exodus 14:30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.14.30) > [!bible]+ [Exodus 14:30 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/14/) > 30. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. God repeats that He is the one that saved Israel in [Leviticus 11:45](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LEV.11.45), [Deuteronomy 4:35-38](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/DEU.4.35-38). > [!bible]+ [Leviticus 11:45 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/3/11/) > 45. For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” > [!bible]+ [Deuteronomy 4:35-38 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/5/4/) > 35. To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him. 36. Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. 37. And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, 38. driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, Not only did God save them from Egypt, He personally led them himself in the wilderness in as recorded in [Exodus 40:36-37](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.40.36-37) and[Joshua 24:17-18a](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JOS.24.17-18). > [!bible]+ [Exodus 40:36-37 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/40/) > 36. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. > [!bible]+ [Joshua 24:17-18 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/6/24/) > 17. for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18. And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” After God saved them, He made a covenant with Moses and Israel directly coming down in [Exodus 24:9-10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.24.9-10). God would continue to appear and speak to Moses face to face, appearing from the pillar of cloud ([Exodus 33:9-11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.33.9-11), [Numbers 14:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NUM.14.14)). > [!bible]+ [Exodus 24:9-10 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/24/) > 9. Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10. and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. > [!bible]+ [Exodus 33:9-11 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/33/) > 9. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. > [!bible]+ [Numbers 14:14 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/4/14/) > 14. and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people. For you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. So the biblical teaching is that God was the one that saved Israel, not just providently, but He Himself personally and directly intervened to save his people as He had promised. However, this starts what *Seems* a contradiction. As we see it was the Angle that moved as the very same pillar of fire and cloud ([Exodus 14:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.14.19)). > [!bible]+ [Exodus 14:19 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/14/) > 19. Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, We see in Judges that is was the Angle that lead Israel from Egypt ([Judges 2:1-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JDG.2.1-4)). > [!bible]+ [Judges 2:1-4 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/7/2/) > 1. Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2. and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? 3. So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” 4. As soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. This is not surprising, as later in Exodus God said to Moses that He will send His angle to lead Israel out from Egypt. They are to be carful to obey **His** voice, do not provoke **Him**, for **He** will not pardon your transgressions; for **My name _is_ in Him** ([Exodus 23:20-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.23.20-22)). > [!bible]+ [Exodus 23:20-22 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/2/23/) > 20. “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. 22. “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. This angel is distinguished by carrying the "covenantal name of Yahweh," meaning Yahweh's presence and being are within Him, as clearly stated with the phrase “My name is in Him” ([[noauthor_1918-gj|The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges]]). This concept, where the 'name' represents not just an identifier but the actual presence and glory of God. [Isaiah 42:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.42.8) emphasizes Yahweh's insistence on not sharing His glory with another, implying that the Angel, bearing Yahweh's name, shares in His divine glory and authority ([[Poole1990-kq]], [[Spence-Jones1884-wn]]). This is no ordinary angel, this is God himself ([[Keil2006-xc]]). In examining these passages, we see the intricate ways God's deliverance and leadership of Israel are portrayed. Initially, God promises Moses in [Exodus 3:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.8),[17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.17)17 and reaffirms in [Exodus 6:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.6.6) that He will liberate Israel from Egyptian bondage, utilizing the term "come down" to signify His direct intervention. This phrase, when used in context with God's actions, heralds a significant divine act, as seen in the deliverance at the Red Sea ([Exodus 14:30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.14.30)) and His revelations in [Leviticus 11:45](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LEV.11.45) and [Deuteronomy 4:35-38](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/DEU.4.35-38), where God reiterates His direct involvement in Israel's salvation and guidance. However, an apparent contradiction arises when these divine actions are also attributed to the Angel of the Lord, as seen in [Exodus 14:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.14.19) and [Judges 2:1-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JDG.2.1-4), where the Angel is said to have led Israel out of Egypt and is spoken of as if He Himself is God, reiterating the covenant promises. This is further emphasized in [Exodus 23:20-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.23.20-22), where God sends an Angel before Israel, insisting on obedience to Him because "My name is in Him" – a phrase that signifies not only representation but an embodiment of God's presence and authority. The Angel of the Lord, therefore, in carrying the name and presence of Yahweh embodying God's presence and fulfilling His promises to Israel and mankind.