Yeshua in the Tenakh: The Pre-Incarnate Son Active from the Beginning
“No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son…He has declared Him.” – John 1:18
“And that Rock was Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 10:4
He was the Fiery Sword guarding Eden
Genesis 3:24 – “He placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim and >a flaming sword< which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”
The flaming sword has been depicted as in the cherubs hand but the reality is that it was a Cherub AND a flaming sword. That guards each way to the tree of life.
Yeshua is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), and He alone guards the path to the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:14).
He was the Flaming Torch in Genesis 15
Genesis 15:17 – “A smoking furnace and a burning torch passed between the pieces.”
This was YHWH sealing the covenant with Abraham.
The burning torch is Yeshua confirming the everlasting covenant.
Yeshua later affirms, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). Meaning I existed.
He was symbolized as the Fire in Gideon’s Torches
Judges 7:16-22 – Gideon’s men broke jars revealing torches and blew shofars, defeating Midian without swords.
The flaming torches within the jars depicts Yeshua —the same Spirit of Yeshua (John 8:12: “I am the light of the world”).
Just as the Spirit indwelt Gideon’s men, Yeshua now indwells His people, leading them to victory.
He was the Cloud by Day and Fire by Night
Exodus 13:21-22 – “YHWH went before them… in a pillar of cloud by day… and a pillar of fire by night.”
1 Corinthians 10:4 identifies the rock they followed as Christ.
Yeshua’s presence was the shepherd in the wilderness (Psalm 78:14; John 10:11).
He was the Rock Moses Struck
Exodus 17:6 / 1 Corinthians 10:4 – “They drank from the spiritual Rock… and that Rock was Christ.”
Moses struck the Rock, and living water flowed—symbolic of Yeshua being smitten for our sins, bringing the Spirit (John 7:38-39).
He Appeared as the Angel/Malak of YHWH
Genesis 16:7-13 – Appears to Hagar; she calls Him El Roi (“the God who sees me”).
Exodus 3:2-6 – The Angel of YHWH appears in the burning bush, identifies as “I AM”.
Judges 13:3-22 – The Angel of YHWH foretells Samson’s birth and ascends in fire—Manoah and wife declare, “We have seen God.”
These appearances aren’t heavenly angels. It’s THE ANGEL OF THE COVENANT - notice this angel accepts worship, speak as YHWH Himself, and often foretells the messianic redemption.
He Was the Man in the Fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Daniel 3:25 – Nebuchadnezzar says, “The fourth looks like a Son of the gods.”
Yeshua physically protected His people from destruction, standing in the fire with them.
He Was the Commander of YHWH’s Army
Joshua 5:13-15 – A man with a drawn sword tells Joshua: “Remove your sandals… this is holy ground.”
Joshua worships Him.
Only YHWH or His visible presence demands holy ground worship—this is Yeshua, the King of Hosts.
He Was the Messenger of the Covenant
Malachi 3:1 – “The Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to His Temple…even the Messenger of the Covenant.”
Yeshua is the divine Messenger, who came to confirm the covenant with many (Daniel 9:27), establishing the new covenant (Luke 22:20).
We see in revelation that Yeshua is the tabernacle/temple of YHWH that YHWH indwells in Yeshua.
CONCLUSION
Judaism’s rejection of these Christophanies requires removing the Living Word from His own testimony in the Tenakh.
Yet Scripture says: “The volume of the book is written of Me” (Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:7).
Rejecting Yeshua in the Tenakh is an error in theology. it is a rejection of the Covenant Keeper, the visible image of the invisible God, and the one whom the prophets and patriarchs saw, heard, and followed.