In Scripture God is depicted as a consuming fire. In fact it is written; For THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.[1] Moreover when the Glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, the sight of the Glory of the LORD was like A CONSUMING FIRE on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.[2]
And when it came time for Joshua to take the people across the Jordan they were to understand the LORD would go before them as A CONSUMING FIRE.[3]`
The way the people knew God accepted their sacrifice was that fire would come down from heaven and CONSUME THE SACRIFICE UPON THE ALTAR. That’s how it all began with Cain and Able. When Cain saw his sacrifice was not accepted as the Sacrifice of his brother; he rose up and killed him.[4]
That’s also how God ratified the Covenant with Abraham; it was by fire as the sacrifices were laid out upon the ground in the pattern of a figure eight. It was at the time of the evening sacrifice when this happened. It was at the descent of the sun at the time when the sun went down that a smoking oven; LAMPS OF FIRE AS A BURNING TORCH PASSED BETWEEN THE PIECES.[5] That was God ratifying the Covenant with Abraham.
That’s how Manoah’s sacrifice was accepted. Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and FIRE ROSE OUT OF THE ROCK AND CONSUMED THE MEAT AND THE UNLEAVENED BREAD.[6] That’s how Elijah’s sacrifice was validated by God. FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED IT.
And the people saw it, THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES AND SAID; THE LORD, HE IS GOD! THE LORD, HE IS GOD![7]
That’s how God ratified the sacrifice of King Solomon. When Solomon finished praying, FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE SACRIFICES; and the Glory of the LORD filled the temple.[8]
What I want to point out is this thing about fire coming down from heaven began all the way back with Cain and Able and that’s how the People knew it was God.
In the book of Hebrews when it talks about the people of Faith like Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets here is what is says; through faith they subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, QUENCHED THE VIOLENCE OF FIRE.[9]
This account of QUENCHING THE FIRE HERE REFERS TO THE THREE HEBREW BOYS. When you go back and take look at that account; this is how the narrative of Shadrach Meshach and Abed-Nego is handed down to us.
It says THEY FELL DOWN INTO THE MIDST OF THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE.[10] THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES IN HIS PRESENCE OF THE LORD. It’s the same that occurred time and again throughout Biblical History. The fire of the LORD fell and THE PEOPLE SAW IT, THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES and said; The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God;[11] just like the Hebrew boys fell in worship before him.
This fire was the fire of the LORD; for it says KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR HEARD THEIR PRAISING FROM WITHIN THE FIRE![12] And looked at a sight to behold saying; Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like THE SON OF GOD.[13]
It was then at that moment the King asked them to come forth saying O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, come out, and come here![14]
Then immediately the satraps and the commandants, toparchs, THE MIGHTY MEN OF THE KING CAME FORTH TO VERIFY WHAT TOOK PLACE and view the men very closely and to take special notice the fire did not dominate over their body.
Moreover they went on to describe THE NATURE OF THE FIRE SAYING; these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and THE SMELL OF FIRE WAS NOT ON THEM; the scent of fire was absent.[15]
The LORD God is characterized by Moses; as an ALL CONSUMING FIRE. For those men who put their hands to the fire and also upon Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego not knowing it was the fire of God; WERE CONSUMED BY THE FIRE just like the wicked sons of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu when FIRE WENT OUT FROM THE LORD AND DEVOURED THEM, and they died before the LORD.
For it is written: BY THOSE WHO COME NEAR ME I MUST BE REGARDED AS HOLY; AND BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE I MUST BE GLORIFIED.[16]
Edward Umling
The all Consuming Fire
In Scripture God is depicted as a consuming fire. In fact it is written; For THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.[1] Moreover when the Glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, the sight of the Glory of the LORD was like A CONSUMING FIRE on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.[2]
And when it came time for Joshua to take the people across the Jordan they were to understand the LORD would go before them as A CONSUMING FIRE.[3]`
The way the people knew God accepted their sacrifice was that fire would come down from heaven and CONSUME THE SACRIFICE UPON THE ALTAR. That’s how it all began with Cain and Able. When Cain saw his sacrifice was not accepted as the Sacrifice of his brother; he rose up and killed him.[4]
That’s also how God ratified the Covenant with Abraham; it was by fire as the sacrifices were laid out upon the ground in the pattern of a figure eight. It was at the time of the evening sacrifice when this happened. It was at the descent of the sun at the time when the sun went down that a smoking oven; LAMPS OF FIRE AS A BURNING TORCH PASSED BETWEEN THE PIECES.[5] That was God ratifying the Covenant with Abraham.
That’s how Manoah’s sacrifice was accepted. Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and FIRE ROSE OUT OF THE ROCK AND CONSUMED THE MEAT AND THE UNLEAVENED BREAD.[6] That’s how Elijah’s sacrifice was validated by God. FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED IT.
And the people saw it, THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES AND SAID; THE LORD, HE IS GOD! THE LORD, HE IS GOD![7]
That’s how God ratified the sacrifice of King Solomon. When Solomon finished praying, FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE SACRIFICES; and the Glory of the LORD filled the temple.[8]
What I want to point out is this thing about fire coming down from heaven began all the way back with Cain and Able and that’s how the People knew it was God.
In the book of Hebrews when it talks about the people of Faith like Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets here is what is says; through faith they subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, QUENCHED THE VIOLENCE OF FIRE.[9]
This account of QUENCHING THE FIRE HERE REFERS TO THE THREE HEBREW BOYS. When you go back and take look at that account; this is how the narrative of Shadrach Meshach and Abed-Nego is handed down to us.
It says THEY FELL DOWN INTO THE MIDST OF THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE.[10] THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES IN HIS PRESENCE OF THE LORD. It’s the same that occurred time and again throughout Biblical History. The fire of the LORD fell and THE PEOPLE SAW IT, THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES and said; The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God;[11] just like the Hebrew boys fell in worship before him.
This fire was the fire of the LORD; for it says KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR HEARD THEIR PRAISING FROM WITHIN THE FIRE![12] And looked at a sight to behold saying; Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like THE SON OF GOD.[13]
It was then at that moment the King asked them to come forth saying O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, come out, and come here![14]
Then immediately the satraps and the commandants, toparchs, THE MIGHTY MEN OF THE KING CAME FORTH TO VERIFY WHAT TOOK PLACE and view the men very closely and to take special notice the fire did not dominate over their body.
Moreover they went on to describe THE NATURE OF THE FIRE SAYING; these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and THE SMELL OF FIRE WAS NOT ON THEM; the scent of fire was absent.[15]
The LORD God is characterized by Moses; as an ALL CONSUMING FIRE. For those men who put their hands to the fire and also upon Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego not knowing it was the fire of God; WERE CONSUMED BY THE FIRE just like the wicked sons of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu when FIRE WENT OUT FROM THE LORD AND DEVOURED THEM, and they died before the LORD.
For it is written: BY THOSE WHO COME NEAR ME I MUST BE REGARDED AS HOLY; AND BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE I MUST BE GLORIFIED.[16]
Scriptures cited
[1] Deuteronomy 4:24
[2] Exodus 24:16–17
[3] Deuteronomy 9:3
[4] Genesis 4.8
[5] Genesis 15.17
[6] Judges 6.21
[7] 1 Kings 18:38–39
[8] 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
[9] Hebrews 11:32–35
[10] Daniel 3:23
[11] 1 Kings 18:38–39
[12] Daniel 3.24 ABP
[13] Daniel 3:25
[14] Daniel 3:26
[15] Daniel 3:26–27
[16] Leviticus 10.3
9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 90