Question: Is the “angel of his presence” who delivers God’s people in Isaiah 63:9 the end-time servant, or is he only a type of the servant?
Answer: Word links to the verb “deliver” in the Book of Isaiah—as, for example, “from my hand none can deliver” (Isaiah 43:13) and “was my hand too short to redeem you; have I no power to deliver?” (Isaiah 50:2)—suggest that the angel of Jehovah’s presence is indeed the servant himself, he who functions as his right “hand” of deliverance.
We see a type of that deliverance in action with the angel who led Israel out of Egypt, who additionally functions as Jehovah’s “arm” of righteousness—that is, his end-time servant: “Awake, arise; clothe yourself with power, O arm of Jehovah! Bestir yourself, as in ancient times, as in generations of old. Was it not you who carved up Rahab, you who slew the dragon? Was it not you who dried up the Sea, the waters of the mighty deep, and made of ocean depths a way by which the redeemed might pass? Let the ransomed of Jehovah return! Let them come singing to Zion, their heads crowned with everlasting joy; let them obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing flee away” (Isaiah 51:9–11).
