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Divine Manifestations in Jewish Tradition and the Bible

Divine manifestations, or theophanies, refer to instances where God reveals himself to humanity, often through visible or audible means. These manifestations are a recurring theme throughout Jewish tradition and the biblical narrative, serving to communicate God's presence, power, and will [14].

One prominent form of divine manifestation is the appearance of God in fire. In Exodus 3:2, the "angel of the Lord" appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from within a bush [11]. This imagery of fire symbolizes Jehovah's presence and serves as an instrument of his power, capable of both approval and destruction [3]. The immaterial, mysterious, yet visible nature of fire, which can warm and comfort but also consume, makes it a fitting symbol for God [3]. The quaking of the earth and heavens, along with the darkening of the sun and moon, are also described as typical signs of a theophany, often signifying divine judgment [12]. Joel 2:30 speaks of "wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke," a prophecy echoed in Acts 2:19 [4, 5].

God's presence is also manifested through other means, such as the cherubim. These angelic beings are depicted as animated by the Spirit of God and engaged in accomplishing God's purposes [6]. Their wings' sound is described as the voice of God, and the glory of God is exhibited upon them [6]. Cherubim were placed at the entrance of Eden and over the ark of the covenant, with God's presence manifested between them [6].

The Bible takes the existence of God for granted, using terms like 'El, 'Eloah, and 'Elohim to refer to the Divine Being [7]. The Hebrew word Jehovah, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations, is another primary term for the Supreme Being [7].

In the New Testament, divine manifestations continue, particularly through the work of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 2:4 states that God bore witness through "miracles and wonders, and by various works of power, even by distribution of the Holy Spirit, according to His will" [2]. The "signs and wonders" performed by Christ and his apostles are regarded as proofs of a divine mission, with "wonders" specifically referring to miracles that cause astonishment [9]. These "divers miracles" or "varied (miraculous) powers" were granted to the apostles after the ascension [9].

The outpouring of the Spirit is a significant prophetic theme related to divine manifestation. Joel 2:28-29 prophesies a time when God will "pour out my Spirit upon all flesh," leading sons and daughters to prophesy, old men to dream dreams, and young men to see visions, even upon servants [13]. Peter, in Acts 2:17, interprets this prophecy as being fulfilled in "the last days," referring to the time of the Messiah [10]. This suggests a widespread manifestation of God's Spirit, enabling many to prophesy, a concept understood by some Jewish traditions to mean that all Israelites would become prophets in the Messiah's time [10].

It is important to distinguish divine manifestations from divination, which the Bible consistently condemns. Divination involves attempting to foretell future events or discover secrets through means other than God's direct revelation, often by appealing to "superior beings" or false systems [1, 8]. Practices such as divination by rods, arrows, cups, consulting teraphim (images), or examining animal entrails are explicitly mentioned and forbidden [1, 8]. This distinction highlights that while God reveals himself through legitimate means, attempts to manipulate or force divine knowledge through illicit practices are considered an affront to God's sovereignty.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Divination — Of false prophets (Deut. 18:10, 14; Micah 3:6, 7, 11), of necromancers (1 Sam. 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (1 Sam. 6:2), of Balaam (Josh. 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezek. 21:21, by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines (Isa. 2:6; 1 Sam. 28). At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and A”
  2. Hebrews “Hebrews 2:4 (LITV) — God bearing witness with them by both miracles and wonders, and by various works of power, even by distribution of the Holy Spirit, according to His will.”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Fire — is represented as the symbol of Jehovah's presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many ”
  4. Joel “I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. -- Joel 2:30”
  5. Acts “I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke. -- Acts 2:19”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Cherubim — Form and appearance of -- Eze 1:5-11,13,14. Animated by the Spirit of God -- Eze 1:12,20. Engaged in accomplishing the purposes of God -- Eze 1:15,21; 10:9-11,16,17. The glory of God exhibited upon -- Eze 1:22,26-28; 10:4,18,20. Sound of their wings was as the voice of God -- Eze 1:24; 10:5. Placed at the entrance of Eden -- Ge 3:24. Of gold Formed out of, and at each end of the mercy seat. -- Ex 25:18-20. Placed over the ark of the covenant. -- 1Sa 4:4; 1Ki 8:6,7; 2Ch 5:7,8. God's presence manifested between. -- 2Sa 6:2; 2Ki 19:15; Ps 80:1; 99:1. The orac”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
  8. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Divination — is a "foretelling future events, or discovering things secret by the aid of superior beings, or other than human means." It is used in Scripture of false systems of ascertaining the divine will. It has been universal in all ages, and all nations alike civilized and savage. Numerous forms of divination are mentioned, such as divination by rods, (Hosea 4:12) divination by arrows, (Ezekiel 21:21) divination by cups, (Genesis 44:5) consultation of teraphim, (1 Samuel 15:23; Ezekiel 21:21; Zechariah 10:2) [[442]Teraphim]; divination by the liver, (Ezekiel 21:2”
  9. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 2:4: them--rather, "God also [as well as Christ, Heb 2:3] bearing witness to it," &c., joining in attestation of it." signs and wonders--performed by Christ and His apostles. "Signs" and miracles, or other facts regarded as proofs of a divine mission; "wonders" are miracles viewed as prodigies, causing astonishment (Act 2:22, Act 2:33); "powers" are miracles viewed as evidences of superhuman power. divers miracles--Greek, "varied (miraculous) powers" (Co2 12:12) granted to the apostles after the ascension. gifts, &c.--Greek, "distributions." The gift ”
  10. Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 2:17: In the last days - The time of the Messiah; and so the phrase was understood among the Jews. I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh - Rabbi Tanchum says, "When Moses laid his hands upon Joshua, the holy blessed God said, In the time of the old text, each individual prophet prophesied; but, in the times of the Messiah, all the Israelites shall be prophets." And this they build on the prophecy quoted in this place by Peter. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy - The word prophesy is not to be understood here as implying the knowledge and discovery of future ”
  11. Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 3:2: the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire--It is common in Scripture to represent the elements and operations of nature, as winds, fires, earthquakes, pestilence, everything enlisted in executing the divine will, as the "angels" or messengers of God. But in such cases God Himself is considered as really, though invisibly, present. Here the preternatural fire may be primarily meant by the expression "angel of the Lord"; but it is clear that under this symbol, the Divine Being was present, whose name is given (Exo 3:4, Exo 3:6), and elsew”
  12. Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 2:10: 2:10 The quaking of the earth and the heavens is a typical sign of theophany, an appearance of God (see Exod 19:16-19; Isa 13:13; Nah 1:5-6). The darkening of the sun and moon symbolizes divine judgment (Isa 13:9-11).”
  13. Joel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Joel 2:28: (Heb. ch. 3). Outpouring of the Spirit of God, and Announcement of Judgment. (Note: Among other special expositions of these verses, see Hengstenberg's Christology, vol. i. p. 326ff. translation.) Joe 2:28. "And it will come to pass afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men see visions. Joe 2:29. And also upon the men-servants and maid-servants I will put out my Spirit in those days." As 'achărē-khēn points back to bâri'shōn in Joe 2:23, the formula”
  14. Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 13:19: 13:19-22 It is not possible for human beings to take in the full revelation of God’s holy presence and still live (cp. 6:20-24; Exod 19:21; 33:20). The Old Testament frequently reports divine visitations on earth in human form; these visitations foreshadow the full appearance of God on earth in the incarnation of Jesus.”
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