He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.” ( Deuteronomy 9:3) “Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” ( Deuteronomy 4:23-24) “Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. There are specific mentions of God as a consuming fire in Scripture (all quotes from the ESV): Firelight can signal that we aren’t alone or rally support when there is danger. We can cook over a fire, and it can keep us warm. Firelight brings out the storyteller in us. Fire in the night can keep us safe, guide us home, and bring us together. Firelight is compelling, comforting, and beautiful. Sometimes, especially out west, the only way to fight fire is with fire. Some of you have witnessed that firsthand.Ī raging fire can sound like a living, breathing beast. I’ve seen training videos of fire when it’s out of control. My father was a firefighter and then fire chief-a career spanning 65 years. I grew up in a household with a healthy respect for fire. His love for us is so relentless, He surrounds us with ways to know Him. God wants to be known and has made Himself known to us through what He has created, through His Word, through His prophets, and finally, through Jesus Christ. Remember, God uses many images from creation to help us understand aspects of who He is. What do I mean? What Does the Bible Mean When it Calls God a Consuming Fire? However, as followers of Jesus, we don’t need to be anxious or fearful. Others react with excitement, believing it refers to His power and protection. Some react with fear, anxious that this refers to God’s judgment. When we hear or read that God is a “consuming fire,” we have varied emotional responses. That phrase can set off alarms (no pun intended).
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