Fearful Fire

Deuteronomy 5:22–24 (ESV) “These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. 23 And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 24 And you said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.

The physical manifestation of God's voice being spoken to ancient Israel is repeatedly fire. When God gives them the law, He does through fire here and in Exodus 20. When Gideon sees the Lord, there's fire that consumes the offering. When Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal, his challenge is this: "and the God who answers by fire, he is God” 1 Kings 18:24 (ESV). When Jeremiah considers quitting preaching he declares the Word is like "fire shut up in my bones" (Jeremiah 20:9). Time and again, fire and God's voice go together. 

Fire shows up in the New Testament when the Church is baptized in the Holy Spirit:

Acts 2:3–4 (ESV) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Why does the Lord speak through fire? Because fire is a perfect example of the effect God's Word has upon our lives. First, fire changes things. You don't touch fire and remain the same. Even steel, when heated enough, changes through the touch and application of fire. Second, fire consumes. When fire has it's total way with something, that something is rendered a shadow of its former self, it is no more. Third, when fire gets hot, we get respectful. Sure we can pass our finger through the flame of a candle, but a raging fire is NOT to be played with. Even getting close to it will give you clear warning to move no closer. Fourth, fire brings light. Today we flick a switch, but before the 20th Century, the only source of light humans had other than the Sun was the fire of night.

We can summarize: Fire is something you respect for your own good. I think this is the best description for why God speaks through fire. Because His Word is for our good. When God speaks through fire to the people they respond with fear and trepidation.

Deuteronomy 5:26–27 (ESV) For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say, and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’

They have learned through experience that when God really speaks, they will be totally changed, consumed and pushed to the limits of human experience. This is the effect of the Word of God upon the condition of the human heart. And even that hard as steel heart will ultimately melt before the power of God's Word. 

When we respect God's Word as Israel does here, good things are the result FOR US. Notice the response of God to the people's fear of the fire:

Deuteronomy 5:29 (ESV) Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

When you respectfully apply the power of fire in your life, good things come about: warmth, light, industry, and fuel combustion among many others. When you respectfully apply the Word of God to your life, the same things happen spiritually affecting all other areas of your life for God's good will toward you. 

The Sun is a burning ball of fire. How interesting that it provides us with the very means of human life and existence and yet it bears the consummation of itself to do do. In Christ, we have the true Son of God consumed by the Word of God for our sins. And through His bearing through that consuming fire on the Cross we are awakened to the light of God, we feel the warmth of His love and we are changed in the power of His Spirit. 

May we grow to respect the power of the Word of God.

Fire to our bones.