“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that 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” (Exodus 23:20–21 ESV).
Moses recorded God’s words to Israel on the way to the Promised Land. He described “an angel” that God promised to send ahead of them, not merely to guide, but to guard, lead, and speak with divine authority. This angel bore God’s name, demanded obedience, and exercised moral authority over Israel’s sin, descriptions that go beyond what Scripture usually assigns to created angels. While the text never explicitly identifies the angel, the language strongly hinted at a unique divine representative. Many have seen in this figure a preincarnate appearance of Christ, the eternal Son who reveals the Father. Yet Moses left the identity veiled, inviting humility rather than certainty. At the very least, the angel functioned as a Christological type—pointing forward to the One who would perfectly embody God’s presence, authority, and guidance among His people.
We are reminded that God has always led His people through His own gracious presence, not from a distance but from the front. While we may speak about the angel’s possible identity, we can confidently say that Jesus fulfills everything this angel foreshadowed. He goes before us, bears the Father’s name, speaks God’s word, and calls for our obedience. When we read the Old Testament with faith-filled eyes, we learn to look for Christ, not forcing Him into the text, but joyfully recognizing Him where He is hinted at, promised, and prefigured. In that sense, Christ truly appears on every page when we look closely enough. So when we ask, “Who was the angel that led Israel?”, we are ultimately led to worship the Christ who leads us still.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for revealing Yourself faithfully throughout all of Scripture. Help us to read Your Word with humble hearts and Christ-centered eyes. Teach us to follow the One You send before us and to obey His voice with joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.