And for
@DavidTree
I'm now really responding to Fred, David.
The messenger of the Lord in Exodus 3:2 is not YHWH Fred. It is a special angel.
God did communicate via an angels as a medium to express himself to mankind.
Now the messenger of the Lord or the Angel of the Lord performs a special duty. This angel can transform its into another form or into another person or even animal even to express God's message.
So we see all three examples in scripture.
1. Into a person when speaking to Abraham
2. When speaking to Moses being transformed into an unheated flaming fire/bush.
and 3. even influencing an animal as in Numbers 22 when the angel spoke the words of God inside a donkey beside guarding the way with a sword....
(Num 22:22) God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
(Num 22:23) The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
(Num 22:24) Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
(Num 22:25) The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he struck her again.
(Num 22:26) The angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
(Num 22:27) The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
(Num 22:28) Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?
(Num 22:29) Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.
(Num 22:30) The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you? He said, No.
(Num 22:31) Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
(Num 22:32) The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come forth as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me:
(Num 22:33) and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.
(Num 22:34) Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.
(Num 22:35) The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
(Num 22:36) When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
(Num 22:37) Balak said to Balaam, Didn’t I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honour?
(Num 22:38) Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
(Num 22:39) Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
(Num 22:40) Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
(Num 22:41) It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.
(Psa 104:4) He makes His Angels winds; His servants flames of fire.
This game of chess you are playing is already over and landed in checkmate I'm afraid Fred, as I also knew your next couple of moves.