Page 61 - Foundations

Laban, the father-in-law of Jacob, spoke the following to him.

Genesis 31:29-30
“It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be
careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.' And now you have indeed gone away because you
longed greatly for your father's house; but why did you steal my gods (elohim)?”

Later on, Jacob spoke to his family and all those in his retinue, saying, “"Put away the foreign gods
(elohim) which are among you” (Genesis 35:2). Also of Moses we read:

Exodus 7:1
Then Yahweh said to Moses, “See, I make you a god (elohim) to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron
shall be your prophet.”

The gods of Egypt are likewise referred to as “elohim.”

Exodus 12:12-13
“For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods (elohim) of Egypt I will execute judgment:
I am Yahweh.”

When one discerns the root meaning of “elohim” as “mighty ones” it appears quite fitting that the
angels should be described by this Hebrew term. Angels are greater in power and might than
mankind. Whenever angels appeared to men throughout the Bible, we see that a common reaction
is for the individual(s) encountering angels to fall prostrate before them. This is true even of
righteous men.

A significant difference between holy angels, and fallen angels is related to the human response to
their glorious appearance. Satan and other fallen angels invite mankind to worship them, while the
holy angels direct the worship of mankind to Yahweh. At the beginning of Yahshua’s ministry we
see that Satan even tempted the Son of God to worship him.

Matthew 4:8-9
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world,