JW's: God's appearances in the OT?

Question

When God appeared to people like Abraham in the OT did He ever take on a physical body?

Answer 1

Good q!  

And they heard the sound of the LORD God WALKING IN THE GARDEN in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the PRESENCE of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”   Gen. 3:8-9

He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.  Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.  Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, HE TOUCHED THE SOCKET OF HIS HIP; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.  And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

So He said to him, “What is your name?”

He said, “Jacob.”

And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH GOD and with men, and have prevailed.”

Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”

And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “FOR I HAVE SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE, and my life is preserved.”  Gen. 32:23-30

Answer 2

No one has ever seen God, remember? Or was John lying?

John 1:18

No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom [position] with the Father is the one that has explained him.

God sent angels to represent him.

Or are you saying John lied?

Answer 3

God himself NEVER appeared before individuals in the Bible. Whenever someone was sent to appear to Bible characters such as Lot, Jacob, and so forth, it was an angelic representative. Even when Moses was up on the mountain and received the Ten Commandments, it was merely a portion of God's glory that he saw and that caused his face to emit rays for a period of time.

The Bible book of John lets us know a simple truth about God: "no man has seen God at any time".

Answer 4

No, he sent angels to act as his agents.

Stephen words at Acts 7:

51 “Obstinate men and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, YOU are always resisting the holy spirit; as YOUR forefathers did, so YOU do. 52 Which one of the prophets did YOUR forefathers not persecute? Yes, they killed those who made announcement in advance concerning the coming of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers YOU have now become, 53 YOU who received the Law as transmitted by angels but have not kept it.”

Paul at Galaitians 3

19 Why, then, the Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made; and it was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now there is no mediator where only one person is concerned, but God is only one. 21 Is the Law, therefore, against the promises of God? May that never happen! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, righteousness would actually have been by means of law. 22 But the Scripture delivered up all things together to the custody of sin, that the promise resulting from faith toward Jesus Christ might be given to those exercising faith.

The Word was God's Spokesman for most of his dealings with humans. As such he would have been the one that stayed to talk to Abraham as the other 2 angels left to Sodom.

We also remember that Moses was shielded from God's Glory, (not phyical presence) and yet he 'glowed" for days after that remarkable event.

Ex: 33;17 And Jehovah went on to say to Moses: “This thing, too, of which you have spoken, I shall do, because you have found favor in my eyes and I know you by name.” 18 At this he said: “Cause me to see, please, your glory.” 19 But he said: “I myself shall cause all my goodness to pass before your face, and I will declare the name of Jehovah before you; and I will favor the one whom I may favor, and I will show mercy to the one to whom I may show mercy.” 20 And he added: “You are not able to see my face, because no man may see me and yet live.”

Answer 5

good one. I'm curious for the answers.