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Question about Old Testament When God Became Physical Before Jesus was Born?
I have a question which I should look up beforehand for a Biblical reference because I think it may stump some people. It's in Genesis I believe.
It's when, three strangers showed up at Abraham's house because God was going to bless Abraham's wife with a pregnancy. God (or the God heads) showed up at Abraham's house and there is speculation I believe as to who these strangers were. if it was God, the Holy Spirit and possibly Jesus or an Angel. Or maybe it was three angels. They sat down with Abraham while Sarah made bread to welcome these "men."
My question is (if we know) who these strangers were or who we believe they were, based on logical speculation. If God did take on human form was He just "wearing" human form but not like Jesus later in the New Testament: 100% human (tempted by desire) and 100% God (Eternal & Perfect)? Which is the crux of our belief that salvation is based on Jesus giving us forgiveness and therefore eternal life. Not by us just doing good but by belief and faith in Him.
Thank you for your educated guesses based on knowledge of scripture and/or spiritual insight to this matter.
I'm rusty in My Old Testament. I started reading from the beginning of Genesis again awhile ago and had some lingering questions. Funny how I forget and have to go back but it's good too for debates and spirtual growth. Thank you. Thank you.
Robert, I thought Yahwey was God.
7 Answers
- yesmarLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
You are partly correct friend. In the instance you cite, the 'men' were merely angels. But there have been other times when God himself took on 'temporary' human form, and appeared to men, such as when Jacob wrestled God.
Whenever there has been an instance of God appearing in the Old Testament, or speaking to humans, it is the very person , the Word, who later became Jesus Christ.
Thanks for asking neighbor.
- arewethereyetLv 71 decade ago
Well technically, it wasn't God who showed up, the Bible says it was 3 men. We assume they were angels because of their appearance later in Sodom.
This is in Genesis 18 btw.
A little further down however, starting verse 21, it says (this is God talking btw):
"I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD."
So the men leave, but God stays there.
The rest of the chapter is the infamous verses; Abraham being the only person who dared to "argue" with God and get away with it lol
- MoiLv 71 decade ago
Yes. Jesus appears in various manifestations throughout scripture. This is one example, Melchizedek is another, and Elisha is yet another of these.
See here what Jesus told the Pharisees:
Jhn 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.
Jhn 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jhn 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
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- Anonymous1 decade ago
one was yahweh, the other two were messengers as verified in ch.19:1
abraham did not recognise god
- Michael KLv 71 decade ago
God never showed up as a physical being. Those were angels, not God.
Source(s): I'm Jewish
