There are many groups who disparage the idea that Yeshua (Jesus) is יהוה (YHVH) simply by claiming the "god-man" idea finds its origin in Hellenistic (Greek) thought and the hint of similar concepts are absent from the Hebrew Scriptures. Below I will attempt to show how that claim is utterly false and misleading.
Yes, ancient Greek culture epitomized paganism (polytheism) with legends full of "god-man" entities. Actually, many cultures, most cultures have "god-man" concepts and some even have "god-man" type prophecies. These cultures also have people who walk upright and drink water, but that does not mean walking upright and drinking water is an evil thing (even though a Manichaean would disagree).
First of all, we need to bury one particular concept. The flesh of a person's body is neither evil, good, or divine in of itself. Flesh is little more than dirt and water. When a person passes away, the essence of that person's "eternal being" departs from his/her flesh (or dirt suit) and with time that decaying flesh returns to its basic elemental composition: dirt and water.
Furthermore, when mankind was created by יהוה, He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). So the whole phrase "god-man" is based upon faulty negative reasoning from the utter beginning. Actually, it is we who are made in His image, not the other way around. So when He appeared in the flesh of "a man" to the eyes of those in the ancient past (will describe those instances in a moment), they were seeing the image or reflection of יהוה, although they were seeing Him in what they or we consider the appearance of "a man".
Examples of the so-called "God-Man" concept in the Hebrew Scriptures
From the very beginning, we read of Adam and Havah (Eve) seeing יהוה walking in the garden and hiding from Him (Genesis 3:8-10). Did He look like a "god-man"? If He was walking and looking, He had at least two feet and at least one eye ball. I suspect He had two eyes and looked a lot like "a human".
In Genesis 18-19, we read of Abraham seeing three "men", two left to destroy Sodom, but One of the three stayed back with Abraham, and He was יהוה. Watch below as the theme unfolds and note this is not some legend recounted by Aristotle or Socrates.
Genesis 18:1-2 And יהוה appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, while he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he [Abraham] lifted his eyes and looked, and saw three men standing opposite him. And when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
Genesis 18:22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before יהוה.
Genesis 19:1 And the two messengers came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom.
If you read the whole passage, you'll see that יהוה even ate food that Abraham prepared for Him. Shocking, isn't it? God in the flesh and eating fleshly food.
In the following passage, we see another example of יהוה appearing in the form of "a man" to His servant Jacob.
Genesis 32:24-30:
(24) And Jacob was left alone. And a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
(25) And when He saw that He did not overcome him, He touched the socket of his hip. And the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated as He wrestled with him.
(26) And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I am not letting You go until You have blessed me!”
(27) So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
(28) And He said, “Your name is no longer called Jacob, but Yisrael, because you have striven with Elohim and with men, and have overcome.”
(29) And Jacob asked Him, saying, “Please let me know Your Name.” And He said, “Why do you ask about My Name?” And He blessed him there.
(30) And Jacob called the name of the place Peni’el, “For I have seen Elohim face to face, and my life is preserved.”
Some will claim this passage is just an example of an Angel or Messenger of יהוה, but that is not what the text says nor does it convey the crux of the story. Jacob's new name "Israel" actually means "to strive with El" or "to wrestle with El"... and that is what Jacob did that fateful night. He wrestled with the very Creator of the Universe, but of course the Creator deliberately limited His abilities.
With just those three examples, there should be ample testimony that this poorly phrased "god-man" concept is not something absent from the Hebrew Scriptures. Thus, we should NOT use that false claim to dismiss the reality or at least the possibility that Yeshua was Himself the same Person as יהוה even though He was experienced via flesh (dirt and water) by His countrymen, followers, and enemies.
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