And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face. (Judges 6:22)
The miracle immediately dispelled Gideon’s doubt, and he recognized that his visitor was a heavenly messenger. Now fear and consternation swept over him. He probably remembered the words of God to Moses, “There shall no man see me, and live” (Ex. 33:20), and feared that death would be the result of looking on the divine being (see Judges 13:22; Gen. 32:30; Deut. 5:24; Heb. 12:29).