By Nick Bibile
God
reveals himself only in Christ (Matt, 11: 27). The theophany
is therefore more accurately defined as a Christophany,
or an epiphany of God in Christ.
Epiphany,
Greek epiphaneia, remember
the word phaneroo – manifest. Epiphaneia
means appearance, closely linked to phaneroo,
manifest. Same meaning.
No
one has seen God. John 1:18 Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. 1
Tim 2:5
Pre-patriarchal
age.
Patriarch
- The father
and ruler of a family or tribe, as one of the founders of the ancient Hebrew
families: in the Bible, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons were
patriarchs.
Latin
word pater means father.
Pre-patriarchal
age – Pre means before, before Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God
spoke directly to Adam, probably a manlike form, Gen 2:16-17;3:8,
God spoke to Cain Gen 4:6-12. God spoke to Noah Gen 6:13-21. God spoke to
Noah’s sons Gen 9:1,8)
Patriarchal times.
God
revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob in his covenant promises. Revealed through theophanies. Manifestation of God to man. Theo – God. Phainomai – to appear.
Angel
of the Lord – Gen 16:7-13; 28:13. Spoke through visions (vision comes from the
word video where you can see) Gen 12:7;15:1;12: 26:24
Two types of dreams. Direct revelation and symbolic
dreams with divine interpretation.
Direct revelations Gen 15:12;20:3-6 : 28:12; 31:10-11; 46:2. Symbolic dreams Gen 37:5-6,10:
40:5-16: 41:1-5)
Mosaic period (Exodus through Deuteronomy)
Theophanic media. (Media, medium, a way of transmission of
communication) Burning
bush (Exod 3:2), a pillar of cloud and fire. (Exod 13:21-22)
Visions. Numbers 22:20.
God
speaking to Moses – Numbers 12:6-8; Deut 18:18;
Moses
recorded things that God told him. (Exod 17:14; 24;4-7; 34:27 ; Num
33:2, Deut 31:9,24 see John 5:46-47)
At
the mountain Moses received the book of the covenant also the book of the law. Exod 24:7; Deut 31:26
Urim and Thummim also became a medium for discerning the Lord’s
will. Urim and Thummim were
gemstones that were carried by the High Priest of Israel on the ephod /
priestly garments. They were used by the High Priest to determine God's will in
some situations. Exod 28:30 Num27:21
Moses
was the author of Psalm 90
To
be continued……