“But the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” – Jud 13:8
This angelic being presented himself to Samson’s parents and told Manoah and his wife that their yet to be born son was to be a Nazirite. And when Manoah asked the angel’s name, he said, “why do you ask, seeing it is wonderful?”
A name that is too wonderful to say? We know the names of archangels, Michael and Gabriel, Rev 12:7; Daniel 10:13,21; 11:1; 12:1; 9:21; Lk 1:19. Their names are not too wonderful to say. It seems that this person is not merely an angel, but is one who is greater than an angel.
Only God has such a name that is so great. When Moses was sent to tell the Israelites that he was sent to deliver them from bondage, and when they would ask who sent you, GOD says tell them “I Am” has sent you. The “I Am” was so significant a name, meaning the self-existent one, that it could be only the true God who sent Moses. Now this name “I Am” was understood by Jews to refer to YAHWEH of the Bible. It was so unique and wonderful a name that Jesus claimed the name for Himself, saying “before Abraham was, I AM”. The hostile Jews understood He made himself to be God and they sought to kill Him, Jn 8:58.
There are many Bible believers who are convinced that this is God, and more specifically, the pre-incarnate Christ (pre-virgin birth). Yes, this one who has a name more wonderful to say is Jesus.
We know Jesus existed before being born of Mary. Christ Jesus was at work from the beginning, Jn 1:1-3. And the spirit of Christ was speaking through the prophets in the Old Testament, 1 Pt 1:10,11. And there are other places in the Old Testament it is believed Jesus appeared
When Isaiah is foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah, Isaiah says what He would be called.
“6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore *. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9.
Who but Jesus Christ would present Himself as a man to Manoah? There is no name like the name of Jesus. “And there is salvation in no * one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
I wouldn’t say it is definitive, but it is certainly within the realm of possibility that this is Christ Jesus Himself who is speaking to Manoah.
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