The Angel of the LORD

Text: Exodus 23:20-33
27 October 2015

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD

1. Sent by the LORD

a) I send an Angel before you   Exodus 23:20
b) My name is in Him   Exodus 23:21

2. His Role/ Ministry

a) To keep Israel in the way
b) To bring the nation into the Promised Land

3. Appropriate response to the Angel of the Lord taught

a) Warning against disobedience
i) Beware of Him and obey His voice   Exodus 23:21
ii) Do not provoke Him   Exodus 23:21
iii) He will not pardon your transgressions   Exodus 23:21
b) Encouragement to obey
i) If you indeed obey His voice and do all I speak   Exodus 23:22
ii) I will be an enemy to your enemies   Exodus 23:22
iii) My Angel will go before you and bring you (to the Promised Land)   Exodus 23:23
iv) I will cut them off   Exodus 23:23
c) Special word concerning idols
i) No bowing down to the gods
ii) No serving of these idols
iii) Their sacred pillars are to be thrown down   Exodus 23:24

4. Obedience enjoined

a) To serve the Lord your God   Exodus 23:25
b) He will bless His people   Exodus 23:25-26
i) He will bless your bread and water
ii) He will take away sickness
iii) No miscarriage
iv) No barrenness
v) Number of days to be fulfilled (No untimely death)
c) A great Plan for conquest of the land   Exodus 23:27-30
i) He will send His fear
ii) He will send hornets and drive the enemies away
iii) But they will not be driven out in one year
iv) The land is too vast to be conquered in a short one year period
v) The land could become desolate
vi) The beasts of the field will become too numerous
vii) Little by little they will be driven out
viii) Till Israel was strong and ready to inherit the land
d) The boundaries of Israel will be established   Exodus 23:31
e) No covenant with the people of the land   Exodus 23:32
f) They will make Israel sin against God   Exodus 23:33
i) Through their gods
ii) Through idolatrous worship
iii) They will be a snare to Israel