Tag: God is a Consuming Fire - Leviticus 10-12

Leviticus 10:2 (ESV Strong's)

And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

Tag:  God is a Consuming Fire

Acts 5:1-6 (ESV Strong's)

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament we have a picture of God demonstrating and enacting His wrath.   Being afraid of God because of His divine judgment is a wise thing to be.   God is a consuming fire:  

Deuteronomy 4:24 (ESV Strong's)

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

God does NOT close His eyes to sin.  He needs a sacrifice and substitute for our sins if we hope to survive His judgment.  That is the point of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.   God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus for our sins and Jesus died by the Father’s hand of wrath.   Jesus took our place.   That is why we can rejoice:

Romans 8:1 (ESV Strong's)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

There is NO condemnation (wrath) for those who take Jesus’ substitutionary death as their own.   Once that happens we can rejoice in God’s consuming fire power:

Deuteronomy 9:3 (ESV Strong's)

Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

God will use that same wrath on those who oppose Him and do harm to true believers.   But, we must remember that God does not tolerate open and rebellious sin against Him.  God is a Holy God and demands Holiness from us, through the power of the Spirit working in us.