He Goes Before You

Scripture Reading: Exodus 23:20-21

Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 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.

Not everyone agrees as to the identity of this angel. A few suggest it is merely a reference to Moses, the man who would lead the Israelites through the wilderness. Others think it might be a reference to Michael, one of the three angelic beings named in Scripture. The majority of Christian commentators lean toward seeing this angel as Christ, the eternal Son of God. That would be my understanding as well.

The reason for this interpretation is the way the angel is described. He has the authority to forgive sin. One of the charges against Jesus during his days of ministry on earth was that he was going around forgiving people’s sins and no one can do that except God.

The second thing that points us towards seeing this as Christ, is God saying, “My name is in him.” The name of God meant the nature and authority of God. This angel had the nature and authority of God, something never given to any created being.

I believe, what we have is a glimpse into the workings of the Son of God before the incarnation. He was God walking among the Israelites in the wilderness, guiding their way, leading them to the place God had prepared for them.

As our Great Shepherd, Jesus is still leading His people through the wilderness of this world to the place that He has prepared for us.