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In the old testament, there are several examples of God appearing to people in bodily form.  Then we are told, "No-one has ever seen God, but God the one and only (or - "the only begotten") who is at the Father's side has made Him known." (John 1:18). 

 

For those of us who believe, this isn't a problem, because we know that Jesus is God in the flesh - "He is the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15).  The simple fact is that it was the Christ who appeared in the old testament - He "has made Him known".  However, when He appeared to men in the old testament, He was referred to as "Jehovah" or simply "God". 

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For the JW's, this is a major stumbling block, because it contradicts their core beliefs, so they simply deny that these old testament appearances took place.  They claim that we need their help to understand the what the Scriptures are actually telling us.  But this is not a matter of understanding. This is a matter of belief!  The JW's simply refuse to believe the Scriptures, because the Scriptures contradict what they have been taught by their elders. 

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They admit that reading Scripture gives us the impression that Moses and Abraham saw God, but then, they deny it.  The J.W’s tell us, ‘Granted, a casual reading of the Bible might give the impression that Abraham literally saw God' (www.jw.org ) 

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They claim - ‘In the same way that he spoke to Moses, God communicated with Abraham through angels.’ (www.jw.org )  They then refer us to scriptures written about Isaiah, Daniel and Amos, as if those verses automatically apply to Moses as well.  But let's do what we should always do.  let's look at what God's word actually tells us.  

 

         DID MOSES ACTUALLY SEE GOD? 

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Moses’ first encounter with God is one of the best-known passages of old covenant scripture-

Exodus 3:2-8   “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.  So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’

And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’

 ‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’  Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.  The Lord said ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians’”. (Exodus 3:2-8) 

God is referred to as “the angel of the Lord” when He first appears to Moses.  This is because He showed Himself in the form of an angel (or a man).  He then clearly identifies himself as God -  “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob”.    It does not say ‘I have come on behalf of the God of Isaac'.  It simply says, “I AM”!  

 

 Here is the same passage from the J.W’s own bible-

 “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”  Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at the true God.  Jehovah added: “I have certainly seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their outcry’  (the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).  

 

The J.W’s are claiming that Moses was confused about who he was speaking with.  The scripture clearly says, “God called to him from within the bush”.  Then it says, “I am the God of your father”.  Then it says that, “Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at the true God”.   Moses didn't hide his face because he  was afraid to look at an angel, but because he was afraid to look at "the true God"!  Moses was not corrected.  He was not told that he was speaking with a mere angel.

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This is not a fleeting appearance, or a short conversation between God and Moses.  It continues for two chapters.  In Ex. 3:16, God gives Moses these instructions, “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, appeared to me and said; I have watched over you and seen what has been done to you in Egypt.’”   Moses was specifically commanded to tell Israel that God had appeared to him!  When an angel appears to men, they tell others that they have seen an angel.  But Moses was commanded to tell Israel that he had seen God!

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This highlights the importance of reading the entire passage of scripture in context, rather than simply hearing a single verse referred to, and letting someone else tell you what it means.  This conversation between God and Moses continues until the end of Chapter 4, and all the while it repeats; “God said to Moses” - “The Lord said” - “Moses said to the Lord” (there is no mention of an angel). 

 

The J.W’s still claim that God did not appear to Moses.  And Moses predicted their unbelieving attitude in this very passage of scripture:  “Moses answered, ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?  Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’  ‘A staff’ he replied.  The Lord said, ‘Throw it on the ground’.  Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.  Then the Lord said to him, ‘Reach out your hand and take it by the tail’.  So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.  ‘This’ said the Lord, ‘is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.’” (Ex. 4:1-5)

 

Here is the last verse from the J.W’s own version of the bible.         

 “This is so that they may believe that Jehovah the God of their forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” (the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).

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In spite of what these scriptures actually say, the J.W’s still refuse to believe that God appeared to him.  They insist that it was only an angel who spoke to Moses. 

 

However, the Lord Jesus Christ himself tells us that the J.W’s are wrong:  “Are you not in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God?  When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like angels in heaven.  Now about the dead rising- have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?’  He is not a God of the dead, but of the living, you are badly mistaken!” (Mark 12:24-27).  The Lord Jesus speaks about angels in this very passage, but Jesus does not say that an angel spoke to Moses- He says, “God said to him”.   So the J.W’s are claiming that Jesus Himself was confused about who Moses spoke with!

 

God requires us to believe Him!  We should not let ourselves doubt him simply because of our lack of understanding.  Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”.

 

God is not asking us to understand everything, but to believe His word - “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side.   Stop doubting and believe.’  Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God’.  Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)

 

      

          GOD APPEARED TO MOSES MANY TIMES

 

“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it ‘the tent of meeting’.  Anyone enquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.  And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.  As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance of the tent, while the Lord spoke with Moses.  Whenever the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to his tent.  The Lord would speak to Moses face to face as a man would speak to his friend.” (Exodus 33:7-11)

Again, in spite of what the scripture actually says, the J.W. website insists that this is only meant ‘figuratively’, that Moses only saw a ‘vision of God rather than a direct view of him.’ (jw.org)   But the following passage of scripture clearly tells us that they are wrong!

 

“Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, He stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam.  When both of them stepped forward He said, ‘Listen to my words; When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.  But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.  With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord.  Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?  The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.” (Numbers 12:5-9)

 

Here is the same passage from the J.W’s own bible -  

‘And Jehovah came down in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miri·am. Both of them went forward.  He then said: “Hear my words, please. If there was a prophet of Jehovah among you, I would make myself known to him in a vision, and I would speak to him in a dream.  But it is not that way with my servant Moses! He is being entrusted with all my house.  Face-to-face I speak to him, openly, not by riddles; and the appearance of Jehovah is what he sees. Why, then, did you not fear to speak against my servant, against Moses?”  So Jehovah’s anger burned against them, and he departed from them.’ (the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).

 

It tells us that Jehovah literally "stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miri·am."   But instead of telling their readers about this verse, the J.W website distracts the unwary reader by referring to scriptures written about Isaiah, Daniel and Amos, as if those verses automatically apply to Moses as well.  They say, God has also appeared to humans through visions, or scenes presented to a person’s mind. For instance, when the Bible says that Moses and other Israelites “saw the God of Israel,” they really “saw a vision of the true God.” (Exodus 24:9-11) Likewise, the Bible sometimes says that prophets “saw Jehovah.” (Isaiah 6:1; Daniel 7:9; Amos 9:1) In each case, the context shows that they were given a vision of God rather than a direct view of him.—Isaiah 1:1; Daniel 7:2; Amos 1:1.' (www.jw.org)

But God specifically tells us that Moses is different from other prophets. ‘But it is not that way with my servant Moses! He is being entrusted with all my house.  Face-to-face I speak to him, openly, not by riddles; and the appearance of Jehovah is what he sees.’ (the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).

When the J.W’s are writing about Moses - Why do they leave out this critical passage?    Judge for yourself.  Are they being genuine?

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There is a distinct similarity in the way God speaks to Moses and the way Jesus speaks to His disciples.

God says of Moses;  “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles.”   The Lord Jesus says to His disciples, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables” (Luke 8:10). 

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God says of Moses,  “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face as a man would speak to his friend.”  And Jesus says of His disciples, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends,” (John 15:15)

 

Moses knew that there was more to God than the form that he saw in the tent of meeting, just as we now know that there was more to Jesus than the human form that he presented to us.  That’s why Moses asked to see God’s true form; “Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory’.  And the Lord said ‘I will cause my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name the Lord, in your presence.  I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion, but’ He said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no-one may see my face and live.’  Then the Lord said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.  When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I pass by.  Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.’” (Exodus 33:18-23)

 

When God spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting, God was in the form of a man – he “became flesh”.  That is why it says - “face to face, as a man would speak to his friend”.   It was “the Christ” - “the image of the invisible God” who spoke with Moses.  Just as it is written, “No-one has ever seen God, but the only begotten Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.” (John 1:18)

 

The JW's stubborn refusal to accept the truth about who Jesus is leads them into constant error.  They are guided by ignorance.  They tell us;

 

‘No human has literally seen God. (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 John 4:12) The Bible says that “God is a Spirit,” a form of life that is invisible to the human eye.—John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17.  God can be seen directly by angels, though, because they are spirit creatures. (Matthew 18:10) Moreover, some humans who die will be raised to life in heaven with a spirit body and will then be able to see God.—Philippians 3:20, 21; 1 John 3:2. (https://www.jw.org)

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But the word of God tells us that Moses "saw Him who is invisible."  And it is revealed that this was through the "Christ".

 

"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:24-27)  Moses saw Him who is invisible!  Moses willingly suffered disgrace for Christ!  This is only true because Christ is the image of the invisible God!

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        DID ABRAHAM ACTUALLY SEE GOD?

 

When the Lord appears to Abram in a vision, we are told it is "a vision":  "After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:  'Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward.'" (Genesis 15:1)

 

 

However, in Gen. 17, when God establishes His covenant with Abraham and his descendants.  It simply says, “the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty’” (Genesis 17:1).   Then, at the end of the conversation it says, “When He had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.” (Genesis 17:22).  God appeared to Abraham and then God went up from him.  During the entire conversation, God is simply referred to as God (or Jehovah).  He is not a vision, or an angel, but "God Almighty". 

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Here is the beginning of Gen.17 from the JW's own version, -  “When Aʹbram was 99 years old, Jehovah appeared to Aʹbram and said to him: I am God Almighty. Walk before me and prove yourself faultless.  I will establish my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you very, very much.  At this Aʹbram fell facedown, and God continued to speak with him, saying: “As for me, look! my covenant is with you, and you will certainly become a father of many nations.” (Gen. 17:1-4 the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania.)

 

At the beginning of chapter 18, we are told that God appears to Abraham again.  “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.   Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby.  When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.  He said, 'If I have found favour in your eyes, my Lord, do not pass your servant by.  Let a little water be brought, and then you may wash your feet and rest under this tree.  Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way - now that you have come to your servant.'"” (Gen. 18:1-5).   The Scripture says that, “The Lord appeared to Abraham”, but then it says that “Abraham looked up and saw three men”.   The question is then:  Who are the three men?  

During this passage of scripture, one of the "three men" is constantly referred to as the “the Lord” (or “Jehovah”).  Here is the same passage from the JW's own version of the bible;.

 

"Afterward, Jehovah appeared to him among the big trees of Mam're, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day.  He looked up and saw three men standing some distance from him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them, and he bowed down to the ground.  Then he said, 'Jehovah, if I have found favour in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant.  Please let a little water be brought and have your feet washed; then recline under the tree.  Seeing that you have come here to your servant, let me bring a piece of bread so that you may refresh yourselves'." (Gen. 18:1-5 the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania.)

 

Clearly, one of the three men is referred to as "Jehovah."  This is consistent in the JW translation. 

 

The fact that God has appeared in bodily form is made obvious throughout the passage.  He is passing by - He is given food and water - He rests under the tree.  So the Lord was actually there, speaking with Abraham, but He also promised to "return" the following year.  

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Then the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child now that I am old?’  Is anything to hard for the Lord?  I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.’” (Gen. 18:13-14). 

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Then in verse 22 of chapter 18 we are told, “The men turned away and went towards Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.  Then Abraham approached Him and said, ‘Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”

After "the men" went towards Sodom, Abraham was literally standing before the Lord, and he was able to approach Him.  God was before Abraham in a form that could be approached!  This is not a vision!  

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As we read on, we find that there were only two "men" who "turned away and went towards Sodom" 

 

The truth is that of the "three men" whom Abraham saw approaching; only two were “angels” and the other one was “the Lord” (Jehovah).  That’s why it tells us that the men “turned away and went towards Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord”.  The only thing needed to get the true context, is a little more reading!  Abraham continues his conversation with the Lord until the end of chapter 18, where it says, “When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, He left, and Abraham returned home.” (Genesis 18:33).  The very next verse says - “The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening” (Gen. 19:1).  

 

So only two of the men turned away and went to Sodom, and we are told that they were angels.  But the third remained with Abraham, and we are told that He was the Lord (Jehovah).  I do not expect any one to simply take my word for this.  I am hoping that you will read the entire passage of scripture yourself- several times!

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  The claim of the J.W. website is this-

“Granted, a casual reading of the Bible might give the impression that Abraham literally saw God. (Genesis 18:1, 33) However, the context shows that the “three men” who came to Abraham were actually angels sent by God. Abraham recognized them as God’s representatives and addressed them as if he were speaking directly to Jehovah.—Genesis 18:2, 3, 22, 32; 19:1.”  (www.jw.org )

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This claim is a complete misrepresentation of what the passage actually says, and this can be verified in the JW's own version.  Throughout the passage, Abraham refers to only one of the men as “Jehovah”.  And that He remained with Abraham when the other two men (angels) left.  It says that Jehovah was there and Abraham stood before Him. 

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In the J.W. version, we read in verse 16 & 17, the men got up to leave and Abraham walked with them for a distance.-  "When the men got up to leave and looked down toward Sodʹom, Abraham was walking with them to escort them.  Jehovah said: “Am I keeping hidden from Abraham what I am going to do? (Gen. 18:16-17, the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).

 

Then in verse 22, we are told that “the men” left to go to Sodom, but “Jehovah” stayed with Abraham.

"Then the men left from there and went toward Sodʹom, but Jehovah remained with Abraham. (Gen. 18:22, the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).

 

At the end of chapter 18, it says, "When Jehovah had finished speaking to Abraham, he went his way and Abraham returned to his place." (Gen. 18:33, the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).

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Again; there were originally three men.  Jehovah was one of them and He stayed behind with Abraham.  He spoke with Abraham further, and then He left him.  The other two went towards Sodom.  This is confirmed when the two men (angels) who left Abraham, arrived in Sodom.

"The two angels arrived at Sodʹom by evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodʹom". (Gen. 19:1, the new world translation of the Holy Scriptures, watchtower bible and tract society Pennsylvania).    

 

It says that they left and “went toward Sodom”, then it says, “the two angels arrived at “Sodom”.   What happened to the other ‘man’?  It says, “but Jehovah remained with Abraham”!

 

Abraham saw “Jehovah” in the form of a “man”!  He saw “the Christ”.   Jesus confirmed this to unbelieving Jews, just as He did with Moses: 

“‘Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’  ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ the Jews said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’  ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’” (John 8:56-58)  

 

Again, I want to emphasise the importance of reading these scriptures in their entire context.  Not just ‘a casual reading’, as the J.W. website insists, but a considered prayerful reading over time. 

It is not a puzzle, as some would have us believe.  For it clearly says that these things were written to teach us;  “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4).   It was not written to trick us, but to teach us.  Scripture clearly says that Moses and Abraham saw God.  They did not see Him as the Spirit, but in the form of a man.  As it is written;  “No one has ever seen God, but the only begotten Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known”.  (John 1:18)   This is what it means when it says, “He is the image of the invisible God.” (Col. 1:15)  “He” is the way that God has chosen to reveal himself to us.  This is why Jesus said; “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” (Luke 10:22)

     

Jesus also said, “I and the Father are one” and “He who has seen me, has seen the Father” (John 14:9).   These things apply to God, and to God alone.  He is not like a man, so He cannot be explained with human logic.  

 

Our understanding depends on us hearing the Holy Spirit (God).  But the J.W’s deny the Holy Spirit as well, because they can't see Him.  They claim that He is just some kind of force.  As it is written, “the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17)  Since they do not know Him, they depend upon their worldly logic and intellect to guide them.  We are clearly warned against this: 

 

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.  For in Christ, the fulness of the deity dwells in bodily form”  (Col. 2:8-9)

 

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