For Our God Is a Consuming Fire

2022-09-21

For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

Knowing that the Lord will come again and shake the heavens and the earth, establishing His kingdom, we serve Him with respect and fear, because “our God is a consuming fire.” How is God a consuming fire?

1. He is jealous. “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24). He loves His people and gave Himself for them. He is jealous when they call something else their god.
2. He judges His enemies. “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee” (Deuteronomy 9:3). If His people are spared from His wrath which they rightfully deserve, how much more does God deserve our respect and our fear?

Ancient Israel saw Horeb in flames at the declaration of the Ten Commandments. “And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness” (Deuteronomy 4:11). How much more will it be at the coming of our Lord? Live in light of that Day.