The Elohim Handle all the Personal Appearances

The Elohim Handle all the Personal Appearances

### Understanding the Role of Elohim in Biblical Appearances

The Bible presents a complex understanding of how God interacts with humanity, particularly through His messengers, known as Elohim. The term "Elohim" is often misunderstood, leading to confusion about who exactly is being seen and spoken to in various biblical narratives. This concept is deeply intertwined with the transcendence of God, who is described as "invisible" in 1 Timothy 1:17. Despite this, there are numerous accounts in the Bible where individuals are said to have seen God or spoken with Him face to face. A closer examination of these accounts reveals that it is not God Himself who appears, but rather His representatives, the Elohim.

### The Transcendence of God

God's transcendence is a fundamental aspect of His nature. In 1 Timothy 1:17, He is referred to as the "invisible" God, highlighting His existence beyond the physical realm. This characteristic of God has been the subject of much debate, especially among those who point to passages like Exodus 33:11, where Moses is said to have spoken to God "face to face." Critics of the Bible often use such verses to claim a contradiction, arguing that if God is invisible, how could anyone have seen Him?

The answer lies in understanding the role of Elohim. In the Bible, "Elohim" is a term that translates to "powerful ones" and is used to describe divine beings or angels who act on God's behalf. These beings are spirit-embodiments of God’s power, functioning as His agents in the world. They are the ones who handle personal appearances and interactions with humanity.

### The Role of Elohim as God’s Messengers

The notion that Elohim serve as God’s representatives is supported by numerous scriptures. For example, in Acts 7:35, Stephen refers to Moses' encounter with the burning bush, which was mediated by an angel, not God Himself. Similarly, in Exodus 23:20-21, God promises to send an angel before the Israelites, instructing them to obey this angel's voice because God's name is in him. This indicates that the angel carries God's authority and can act on His behalf.

The concept that an angel could embody the presence and authority of God is evident throughout Scripture. For example, in Genesis 32:30, Jacob declares, "I have seen God face to face," yet Hosea 12:3-5 clarifies that this encounter was with an angel. Similarly, Abraham's conversations with God in Genesis 18 and 19 are, upon closer inspection, interactions with angels who appeared in human form. This aligns with John 1:18, which asserts, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him." This passage reiterates the idea that the ultimate revelation of God is through His Son, Jesus Christ, not through direct human encounters with God Himself..

### The Unseen God and the Seen Elohim

John 1:18 states, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him." This verse underscores the idea that God Himself has never been seen by any human being. Instead, it is through Elohim that God’s presence is made known to humanity. These powerful beings carry out God’s will, appearing in various forms to guide, instruct, and sometimes even challenge those they encounter.

The Elohim are responsible for executing God’s plan on Earth, from creation to the ongoing interactions with humanity. It was Elohim who declared, "Let us make man in our image," as stated in Genesis. They were also the ones who appeared to the patriarchs, prophets, and kings throughout biblical history.

### Misinterpretations and Human Perception

Despite the clear distinction in scripture, human perception often muddles the understanding of these divine encounters. People tend to see and interpret events based on their beliefs and desires. A person who is not grounded in the truth may misinterpret the appearance of an Elohim as something else entirely, perhaps even as an extraterrestrial being. This speaks to the broader issue of how human perception can be influenced by preconceptions and misinformation.

Ultimately, the Bible teaches that while God is the singular source of all creation, He operates through a multitude of agents—Elohim—who manifest His power and will. These beings are the ones who engage with humanity, serving as the tangible representatives of the otherwise invisible and transcendent God. Understanding this distinction is crucial for a deeper appreciation of the biblical narratives and the nature of divine encounters.

Transcendence

God is called "invisible" in 1Tim 1:17. Much sport has been made of the Bible by shallow men who claim to see a contradiction in this. They read such passages as Exo 33:11 to prove that Moses saw God (Elohim or Angel) face to face, but they neglect other passages like Acts 7:35, which show that the angels were God's messengers to communicate with man: "Behold, I send an Angel before thee... Beware of him, and obey his voice... for My name is in him" (Exo 23:20,21). 

God could direct one of His angels so that the angel became in effect God. Cp, for example, Gen 32:30 with Hos 12:3-5. Abraham was said to have talked to God, but a careful look at Gen 18:1,2; 19:1 shows that he dealt only with angels. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him" (John 1:18). 

Elohim

Elohim stands for “powerful ones.” It was often translated by the English non-word “God.” It isn’t that far from being true, though, for it was Elohim who manipulated the planet and placed humans on it. It was Elohim who said 'Let us form the human in our own image.' It was Elohim who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, David, and Josiah, to name a few. EL (the Deity) has never been seen by anyone.

The Elohim handle all the personal appearances. We know this because Scripture clearly teaches that all creation was produced from One Power (out of and through which are all things) but this One Power operates by way of a multitude of agents (Elohim) who are spirit-embodiments of its power. “But what if some poor human sees Elohim going about El’s business and he thinks they are something else ... like men from Mars?” Beg pardon?

If humans become what they eat is it odd to think humans see what they want to see and think what they want to think? A person who eats, sees, and believes things that aren’t true and proper is bound to have problems somewhere along the line. Tough, isn’t it?