Divine Fire: Consuming or Non-Consuming?
In this article, you will learn how Exodus 3:3 contradicts Genesis 19:24, 1 Kings 18:38, Leviticus 9:24, 2 Kings 1:10, Deuteronomy 9:3, Isaiah 47:14 and Jeremiah 21:14. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In biblical narratives, fire often serves as a divine instrument or symbol, and yet, the nature of this fire varies dramatically across different accounts. Take Exodus 3:3, for instance, where Moses encounters a bush that miraculously burns without being consumed. This intriguing phenomenon captures Moses' attention and opens a channel for God to speak with him. The burning bush represents an encounter that transcends natural law, symbolizing God's presence and the idea of enduring spirituality.
In contrast, other biblical passages depict fire as a consuming force, a reflection of divine retribution or manifestation of God's immense power. Genesis 19:24 recounts the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, where brimstone and fire rain down from the heavens to entirely obliterate the cities. Here, fire is a tool of divine judgment, an all-consuming force that leaves nothing behind.
Similarly, 1 Kings 18:38 describes the fire of the LORD consuming a sacrifice, along with wood, stones, and even water, showcasing a powerful exhibition of God's might. Leviticus 9:24 bears a similar message with fire consuming the burnt offering on the altar.
In 2 Kings 1:10, Elijah calls down fire that consumes soldiers, vividly illustrating fire as an agent of annihilation. Likewise, Deuteronomy 9:3 portrays God as a consuming fire that leads the Israelites against their enemies.
Isaiah 47:14 and Jeremiah 21:14, too, speak of fire's consuming nature, devouring all it touches like stubble in a raging flame.
These contrasting depictions invite reflection: why does the same divine element—fire—serve such contrasting purposes in different contexts? From a persistent bush to complete destruction, the role of divine fire in the scriptures emphasizes not just God’s power but also the multifaceted ways in which this power is understood and conveyed through biblical narratives. Are these variations symbolic of different aspects of the divine or interpretations of human understanding?
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Exodus 3:3 | And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. |
| 2. | Genesis 19:24 | Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; |
| 3. | 1 Kings 18:38 | Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench. |
| 4. | Leviticus 9:24 | And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. |
| 5. | 2 Kings 1:10 | And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I [be] a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. |
| 6. | Deuteronomy 9:3 | 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. |
| 7. | Isaiah 47:14 | Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before it. [themselves: Heb. their souls] |
| 8. | Jeremiah 21:14 | But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it. [punish: Heb. visit upon] |