Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
The Devouring Fire
Today’s Verse:
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? ~Isaiah 33:14
What image comes to your mind when you read of a devouring fire? I think of a fire that burns up everything in its path: a fire that is strong, unstoppable, and growing. Isaiah asked two questions:“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
We see the character.
Fire has many uses. Fire provides us with heat. Fire is used for melting. Fire is used for cooking. Fire speaks of the presence of God. It is a picture of His holiness. The Lord Jesus’ eyes are as a flame of fire; His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. At His second coming, Jesus will be as a refiner’s fire. God met with Moses in a burning bush. God was a burning fire on Mt. Sinai. God led Israel by a pillar of fire. God answered by fire on Mt. Carmel through Elijah. God came down on 120 believers at Jerusalem in cloven tongues of fire.
We see the cleansing.
Fire cleanses and purifies. Gold and silver are purest after they have gone through the fire. The fire melts the metal and allows the impurities embedded with it to come to the surface for removal. God uses fiery trials to purge us from sin. Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael were cast into the fiery furnace. The fire did not touch or hurt them. However, they came out better men spiritually than when they were cast into it. Thank God for the cleansing.
We see the consuming.
It’s a devouring and everlasting fire. God is calling us to be people on fire for Him! David said, "While I was musing the fire burned." Jeremiah said, "His word was in mine heart as a burning fire." Paul said that we are to be a peculiar people, zealous (burning) of good works. Paul was stirred in his spirit when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Who among us shall dwell in the devouring fire? Let the fire of God burn in your heart for His Word. Let the fire of God burn in your heart as His witness. Let the fire of God burn in your heart for His work.
We see the condition.
Isaiah asked, “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?” The answer is, “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.” A life that is holy, honest, pure, righteous, and truthful and that shuns evil is the pathway for dwelling in the devouring fire. We must be saturated with the Word, separated from wickedness, and stimulated through prayer. We must draw nigh unto God, so that God will draw nigh unto us. Our God is a consuming fire. The more we are in His presence, the greater the devouring fire burns within us. You must meet the condition in order for the devouring fire to be burning in you. Just as John the Baptist was a burning and shining light, God desires all of His people to be living in the everlasting fire. Be that someone who has the devouring fire in his life.
Have a fiery God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Job 5-7
Comments