“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
Deuteronomy 4:24 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/deu.4.24.nkjv
“Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you.” Deuteronomy 9:3 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/deu.9.3.nkjv
“Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, Burning with His anger, And His burden is heavy; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue like a devouring fire. His breath is like an overflowing stream, Which reaches up to the neck, To sift the nations with the
sieve of futility; And there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, Causing them to err. You shall have a song As in the night when a holy festival is kept, And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, To come into the mountain of the Lord, To the Mighty One of Israel. The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, And show the descent of His arm, With the indignation of His anger And the flame of a devouring fire, With scattering, tempest, and hailstones.”
Isaiah 30:27-30 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/isa.30.27-30.nkjv
In both Deuteronomy passages, God is called a consuming fire. In Deuteronomy 4:23- 25, Moses is telling the Israelites that God is jealous and will not share His glory with worthless idols. His absolute Holiness will not be disrespected. In Deuteronomy 9:3, Moses tells the Israelites God will go ahead and consume their enemies.
In Isaiah 30:27-30, those who dishonor God and His immense holiness experience his consuming fire.
God’s holiness is why He is a consuming fire which burns up anything unholy. God’s holiness is what separates Him from sinners. In Isaiah 64:6:
“But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/isa.64.6.nkjv
In Romans 3:10:
“As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;”
Romans 3:10 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/rom.3.10.nkjv
So, given that no one can ever reach righteousness and avoid God’s consuming fire, only one solution could be found if we were ever to have a hope of living and being with God. The solution was Jesus Christ, who is completely righteous, to die on the cross and resurrect as confirmation that the Father accepts the sacrifice. In essence, the sin God hates with consuming fire is quenched through Christ’s absolute righteousness and blood.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/2co.5.21.nkjv
So even though God is consuming fire, being clothed in Christ’s blood reconciles us to Him which yields peace, love, grace and mercy. We are able to walk with God because of Christ’s sacrifice. So, do not be afraid of God’s consuming fire. His fire is warm and welcoming through Christ.
Father,
Thank you for sending your only Son’s blood to quench the consuming fire. Without your Son’s sacrifice, the flames of your anger could not be put out because of Your absolute holiness. Thank you for the honor of having a path to You through your Son. Your immense love from your sacrifice is reciprocated through My faith and obedience. In Jesus precious name. Amen.
by Kent Brosh a Kawaiaha’o Blog Contributor
Alberta, Canada
