I’ve always been fascinated with fire. I love lighting fires and watching them burn in a fireplace or bonfire. They are mysterious and mesmerizing. Fires can be either calming or destructive. Fire can be either the source of warmth and life or death and destruction. It is complex and beautiful – warming and vital – peaceful and destructive. It is the perfect symbol of God.
Fire is used around 550 times in the Bible. Generally, it is used metaphorically and physically as a symbol of God’s power, judgment, presence, and holiness. Throughout this month we will be exploring the various ways fire is associated with and used by God. To make our study easier, I have divided our focus into four broad themes:
🔥 Fire is used by God as a source of guidance and protection.
🔥 Fire represents the glory and holiness of God.
🔥 Fire is used as the symbol of testing or purification by God.
🔥 Fire is the tool used by God for judgment and punishment.
Before we can get into those themes, we must first recognize that God himself is described as a consuming fire multiple times in the Scriptures. Moses declares multiple times that The Lord God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Both the Greek and Hebrew words here mean exactly how the English versions translated them. God is an all-consuming fire. He completely destroys anything unholy and wicked. Nothing evil can stand before God and not be consumed by His holiness and righteousness.
While God is an all-loving and merciful God, God is also a consuming fire. God’s fire also makes him a jealous God. He will not His glory and righteousness with false gods or idols. No other god can stand before God and not be consumed by His perfect holiness. His glory consumes all other idols or gods that dare to equate themselves to Him. God will also not share your love or adoration. God’s jealousy burns for you. He wants you to love only Him. He will not tolerate our disrespect toward Him nor will He tolerate our disobedience.
Before we can learn about God’s fire and His use of fire, we must first understand that God Himself is made of an all-consuming eternal righteous fire. Nothing evil or wicked can stand before His fire and not be destroyed. So, prepare yourself when you approach God for God is a consuming fire – a jealous God. #GodsConsumingFire
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