Deuteronomy 4:24

Moses repeats his warning to Israel. They must not forget the covenant the Lord had made with them (v.23). They must not degrade themselves by making any carved image, whatever form it might take... Fire is a striking witness to the awesome holiness of God in judgment. Let Israel, and all people, beware of insulting a God of such burning power and majesty!

God revealed Himself in fire early on. This showed the searching character of His righteous judgment, whether He was accepting good or condemning evil. When Moses came near the burning bush at Horeb, God warned him not to come closer, but to take off his shoes, because the ground was holy... On Mount Sinai "the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire" (Ex. 24:17). He showed His acceptance of sacrifices by fire from heaven, and He defended His own honour by fire, destroying those who approached Him in disobedience... The general idea in "fire" is that of judgment.

It seems very different to say, "Our God is a consuming fire" compared with "God is love," but really these statements go together. Our God is a consuming fire because He is love, because there must be an intense action that both preserves the good and opposes the evil. Can God ignore anything that stops people from knowing His love? Impossible. How does a mother feel towards the snake that would bite her child? Love is a fire that many waters cannot quench, and anyone who understands the jealousy of love will be thankful that God is a consuming fire... Our jealousy is the result of selfishness, but God's jealousy is the result of complete unselfishness.

Scripture does not need such twisting and turning. We must take it as it stands... "Our God is a consuming fire," "a jealous God," not to consume us, blessed be His holy Name, but to consume the evil in us and in our ways. He will not put up with anything in us that is against Himself and against His holiness. And whatever is against His holiness is against our true happiness and our real, solid blessing.

People sometimes say, "God is a consuming fire to the world." One day He will be, no doubt. But right now He deals with the world in grace, patience, and long-suffering mercy... In Hebrews 12 we also read, "For our God is a consuming fire." That is not what God will be to the world. It is what He is to us. Neither is it, as some put it, "God is a consuming fire out of Christ." We know nothing of God out of Christ. He could not be "our God" out of Christ.

There is no doubt that "our" God is a consuming fire. Yet He is our Father who loves us perfectly. And as "God" He loves us just as much. He hates sin no less, as He proved at the cross of Christ. He has given us a nature that hates sin — Christ Himself, who lives in us as He died for us. Nothing is more opposed to truth than making grace a veil or excuse for sin.

Israel now knows Him as a "consuming fire," because of their sin. In the latter day, broken-hearted and repentant, they will know Him as a "merciful God." (See Deut. 4:24-31)