The Angel of the LORD Ascends in the Flame

Manoah tries to honor the mysterious visitor with food, but the Angel directs the offering to the LORD. As the burnt offering rises, the Angel ascends in the flame; Manoah fears death because they have seen God, while his wife reasons that God’s accepted offering and promise show mercy, not destruction. The episode explains why Christians have often read the Angel christologically, but the New Testament never explicitly identifies this appearance as Christ.