Supernatural Fire







1. What two cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven?



2. When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, what did they follow by night?



3. According to Daniel, this person had a throne lke a fire of flame. Who was he?



4. What did the seraph touch the trembling Isaiah's tongue with?



5. According to Revelation, where is the place reseverved for those whose names are not in the book of life?



6. What did the cherubim use to guard the entrance to Eden?



7. How did God first appear to Moses?



8. What strange phenomenon accompanied the plague of hail in Egypt?



9. What Mountain did the Lord descend upon in fire?



10. What two sons of Aaron were devoured by fire for making an improper offering to the Lord?



11. How did God deal with the Israelites who were complaining about their misfortunes in the wilderness?



12. What judge of Israel was visited by an angel whose staff caused meat and bread to be consumed by fire?



13. How did Elijah respond to an army captain's summons to present himself to King Ahaziah?



14. What two men saw a chariot of fire draw by horses of fire?



15. Where, in answer to Elijah's prayer, did fire from the Lord consume both the sacrifice and the altar?

1. What two cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven?

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed



Genesis 19:23-26


"The sun was risen upon the earth
when Lot entered into Zoar.
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah
brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain,
and all the inhabitants of the cities,
and that which grew upon the ground.
But his wife looked back from behind him,
and she became a pillar of salt."





In gaining great worldly influence, Lot had lost all influence and spiritual power,
even over his own family, Gen_19:14.

"And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law,
which married his daughters,
and said, Up, get you out of this place;
for the LORD will destroy this city.
But he seemed as one that mocked
unto his sons in law."


No Christian can find his pleasure and profit in the world and at the same time
bear effectual testimony against the world.
Choose between the Word and the world. No heart can mature two crops.

2. When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, what did they follow by night?

A pillar of fire



Exodus 13:21

"And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,
to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire,
to give them light; to go by day and night:
He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day,
nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."





God called his people out of Egypt on a long journey to an unknown future and to a strange land promised to them.
God led his people by the roundabout way of the wilderness to the Red Sea.
This route was the way chosen by God, not by Moses or the people. While the alternate route was quite a bit shorter,
it was also occupied by the Egyptians.
They would have had to fight the Egyptians if they had taken that route.
God spared them from battles they were not yet prepared to fight.
The wilderness was vast and desolate, and largely uninhabitable.
Without a good guide, they would have easily perished.

God manifested his presence among his people in a special way in a pillar of cloud by day
and in a pillar of fire by night.
He guided them through the wildnerness by means of this pillar of cloud and fire.
His continuous presence enabled them to persevere on their journey to the very end.
It was their greatest consolation while they wandered as aliens and sojourners(Numbers 14:14).

The wilderness was the place of preparation and testing for the people of Israel.
When Israel had encamped between the wildeness and the Red Sea,
Pharoah sent his special hand-picked forces to bring the Hebrews back to Egypt.
This would be their first test in the wildnerness, as they waited on God.



Before the Lord Jesus began his public ministry, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
for forty days of preparation.
There he encountered testing and spiritual warfare.
Through this testing he proved his readiness to obey and to trust his Father.

The Lord leads us into the wilderness by his Holy Spirit (we are not yet home with the Lord in heaven).
We, likewise are aliens on pilgrim journey to the promised land of heaven.
God guides us on our journey through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who is our pillar of cloud and fire
and our guide and teacher ((John 14:16-17,26; 1 Cor. 10:1-3).
Are you ready to submit to the Lord and to trust in him as he leads you
through the wildnerss of spiritual warfare and testing?


"Lord Jesus Christ, your word is my lamp
and your Holy Spirit my light.
Help me to always walk in your presence
and to obey your will fully.
Give me courge and perseverence
in times of testing and temptation."




www.rc.net

3. According to Daniel, this person had a throne like a fire of flame. Who was he?

The Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:9


"I beheld till the thrones were cast down,
and the Ancient of days did sit,
whose garment was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like the pure wool:
his throne was like the fiery flame,
and his wheels as burning fire."




The title “Ancient of Days” first appears in Daniel 7:9; where Daniel is describing his vision of heaven.
There an ancient, or venerable, Person sits on a flaming throne with wheels of fire,
His hair and clothing white as snow.
The flaming throne is symbolic of judgment,
while the white hair and title “Ancient” indicate that God existed before time began.

In Isaiah 43:13; we find that God refers to Himself existing from ancient of days (literally “before days were”).

That means God existed before days were even created.

We read in Genesis 1 that God created time, days and nights, so God existed from before the beginning of time.
God is often represented as ancient, as He that is “from everlasting to everlasting” Psalm 90:2
and as “the first and the last” in Isaiah 44:6.

There can also be no doubt that the reference here is to God as Judge.

A similar description occurs in Revelation 1:14-15; wherein Christ is described as having snow white hair
and blazing eyes.

At this time, God the Son is depicted with the same power of judgment over His church
as the Ancient of Days is described as having in judging Israel.

In fact, His sharp gaze judges all seven of the churches in Revelation 1–3 with complete clarity
of the reality of all there is to know.

The title "Ancient of Days" is found only three times in Scripture,

all three in prophetic passages in Daniel 7:9; 13and 22.

Verse 22 refers specifically to Jesus whose judgment will be part of the end times events.

In Daniel 7:13; the term “ancient of days” refers to God the Father,

and we see Him on His throne as Jesus, the “Son of man” approaches the throne on clouds.

God is a triune God, meaning three persons in One,

and at different times “Ancient of Days” to Jesus Christ and at other times, God the Father.

But in the prophetic sense, it clearly refers to Jesus, the Ancient of Days returning
to pronounce judgment on the world (Daniel 7:22).


www.gotquestions.org/ancient-of-days

4. What did the seraph touch the trembling Isaiah's tongue with?

The Seraph touched [the unclean lips] of Isaiah
with a live coal from off the altar.

Isaiah 6:6,7


"Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,
having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
And he laid it upon my mouth,
and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips;
and thine iniquity is taken away,
and thy sin purged."




6:1) "In the year that King Uz-zi-ah died I saw also the Lord sitting Upon a throne,
high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple"

(6:2) "Above it stood the ser-aphims each one had six wings, with twain he covered his face,
and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly."

(6:3) "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts:
the whole earth is full of His glory.

(6:4) " And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke."

(6:5) " Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips,
and dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

(6:6) "Then flew one of the ser-aphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs of the altar."

(6:7) " And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips;
and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin is purged."

(6:8) " Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Then said I; send me.





This is the only Scriptural reference to the seraphim. The word means "the burning ones."
In the context of Isaiah, the seraphim are connected with God's throne and His holiness.
They are standing and serving before the throne, awaiting His commands.


The seraphim have six wings- two that covered the face, two over the feet, and they fly with other two.
If they are angels, they have a different appearance from all the other ones in Scripture.
They also have a different appearance than the cherubim.


The seraphim were engaged in the purification of the prophet Isaiah.


And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips;
yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" The seraph touched my mouth with it and said:
"Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out" (Isaiah 6:5,7).



================================================================



Those who are to teach others the knowledge of God must themselves have the vision of God.
Those are fittest to be employed for Him who, having heard His voice,
have been humbled before Him
in the sense of their own vileness and are made deeply sensible of their own weakness.

5. According to Revelation, where is the place reseverved for those whose names are not in the book of life?

"The Lake of Fire"



"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire."

Revelation 20:15

6. What did the cherubim use to guard the entrance to Eden?

A Flaming Sword

Genesis 3:24



So he drove out the man;
and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden
Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way,
to keep the way of the tree of life.

7. How did God first appear to Moses?

In a burning bush that was not consumed



Exodus 3:2


1, Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian:
and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2, And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush:
and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3, And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4, And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush,
and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.


The years of the life of Moses are divided into three forties;

the first forty
he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court,

the second
as a shepherd in Midian,

the third
as a king in Jeshurun.

How changeable is the life of man!

The first appearance of God to Moses, found him tending sheep.

This seems a poor employment for a man of his parts and education, yet he rests satisfied with it;
and thus learns meekness and contentment, for which he is more noted in sacred writ, than for all his learning.

Satan loves to find us idle;
God is pleased when he finds us employed.

Being alone, is a good friend to our communion with God.

To his great surprise, Moses saw a bush burning without fire to kindle it.
The bush burned, and yet did not burn away; an emblem of the church in bondage in Egypt.

And it fitly reminds us of the church in every age,
under its severest persecutions kept by the presence of God from being destroyed.

Fire is an emblem, in Scripture, of the Divine holiness and justice, also of the afflictions and trials
with which God proves and purifies his people, and even of that baptism of the Holy Ghost,
by which sinful affections are consumed, and the soul changed into the Divine nature and image.

God gave Moses a gracious call, to which he returned a ready answer. Those that would have communion with God,
must attend upon him in the ordinances wherein he is pleased to manifest himself and his glory,
though it be in a bush.

Putting off the shoe was a token of respect and submission.

We ought to draw nigh to God with a solemn pause and preparation,
carefully avoiding every thing that looks light and rude, and unbecoming his service.

God does not say, I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but I am.

The patriarchs still live, so many years after their bodies have been in the grave.
No length of time can separate the souls of the just from their Maker.

By this, God instructed Moses as to another world, and strengthened his
belief of a future state.

Thus it is interpreted by our Lord Jesus, who, from hence, proves that the dead are raised, Luk_20:37.

Moses hid his face, as if both ashamed and afraid to look upon God.

The more we see of God, and his grace, and covenant love, the more cause we shall see to worship him
with reverence and godly fear.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8. What strange phenomenon accompanied the plague of hail in Egypt?

Fire that ran along the ground


Exodus 9:23






1, Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
2, For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,
3, Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the *****, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
4, And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.
5, And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
6, And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
7, And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
8, And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.
9, And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
10, And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
11, And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
12, And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.
13, And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14, For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
15, For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
16, And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
17, As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
18, Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
19, Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
20, He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
21, And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22, And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
23, And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
24, So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
25, And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.
26, Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
27, And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
28, Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
29, And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.
30, But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.
31, And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
32, But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.
33, And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
34, And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
35, And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

9. What Mountain did the Lord descend upon in fire?

Mount Sinai


Exodus 19:18




17, And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.



18, And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire:
and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.



19, And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake,
and God answered him by a voice.

20, And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount:
and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.



21, And the LORD said unto Moses,
Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

22, And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

23, And Moses said unto the LORD,
The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount,
and sanctify it.

24, And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee:
but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

25, So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.



Never was there such a sermon preached, before or since, as this which was preached to the church in the wilderness.

It might be supposed that the terrors would have checked presumption and curiosity in the people;
but the hard heart of an unawakened sinner can trifle with the most terrible threatenings and judgments.

In drawing near to God,
we must never forget his holiness and greatness, nor our own meanness and pollution.
We cannot stand in judgment before him according to his righteous law.

The convinced transgressor asks,
What must I do to be saved? and he hears the voice, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

The Holy Ghost, who made the law to convince of sin, now takes of the things of Christ,
and shows them to us.

In the gospel we read,
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.

We have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Through him we are justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses.
But the Divine law is binding as a rule of life. The Son of God came down from heaven,
and suffered poverty, shame, agony, and death, not only to redeem us from its curse,
but to bind us more closely to keep its commands.

10. What two sons of Aaron were devoured by fire for making an improper offering to the Lord?

Nadab and Abihu

Leviticus 10:1-2




Leviticus 10:

Sin of Nadab and Abihu

1, And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2, And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
3, Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.




Question: "What is the meaning of the strange fire in Leviticus 10:1?"

Answer: In order to understand the phrase “strange fire,” we must review the story in Leviticus in which it appears. The first tabernacle had been erected, and Aaron was doing a lot of sacrificing per God’s instructions (Leviticus 8–9).

One day, two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, came along and offered “strange fire.” The Hebrew word translated “strange” means unauthorized, foreign or profane. God not only rejected their sacrifice; He found it so offensive that He consumed the two men with fire.

After Nadab and Abihu were killed, Moses explained to Aaron why God had done such a terrible thing: “Moses then said to Aaron, ‘This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored'" (Leviticus 10:3).

Although the exact nature of the profane fire isn’t known, it could have been that the two men came into the tabernacle drunk (Leviticus 10:8-9). Whatever it was the men did to render the offering profane, it was a sign of their disregard for the utter holiness of God and the need to honor Him in solemn and holy fear. Their carelessness and irreverence were their downfall.

God was making a point here to all the other priests who would serve in His tabernacle—and later, in His Temple—and to us as well. Since this was the first time sacrifices were being offered on the altar, and Israel was getting to know and understand the living God better, when Aaron’s sons were disobedient and profane, God displayed His displeasure in no uncertain terms.

If leadership crosses the living God at an early point, there is a stiff price to pay. A very similar story occurs in Acts 5:1-11. A husband and wife lie to Peter about some land given to the church, and they end up dying because of their lie. As Peter puts it: “You have not lied to men but to God."

The application is fairly straightforward: God knows our hearts. He knows what we truly believe and our attitude toward Him. We cannot offer to Him proud “sacrifices” that are unworthy of Him. He seeks those who come to Him in humility, ready to sacrifice their pride and lay before Him humble and contrite hearts grieving for sin against the God of love (Psalm 51:17).

Certainly there is grace and forgiveness and plenty of “second chances” for those who belong to Him. But God wants us to know that He is very serious when it comes to His honor and glory. If there is willful disobedience in the life of a believer, then God disciplines us out of His great love for us. If such disobedience continues, God will take harsher measures until we understand how we are disappointing Him. If we continue in our disobedience even after that, then God has every right to impose the harshest of penalties.


www.gotquestions.org

11. How did God deal with the Israelites who were complaining about their misfortunes in the wilderness?

His fire devoured them

Numbers 11:1-3



People Complain


1, And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it;
and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them
that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

2, And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

3, And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.



TABERAH FIRE

In the book of Numbers 11:1-3 a situation arose when the people of Israel began complaining out loud to the Lord about all the troubles they were facing living in the wilderness.

The Lord became angry and the fire of the Lord began to burn among them. The burning was so awful that some people on the outskirts of the camp died. The people cried out for Moses to talk to God, and when he did the fire died down.

The place was called, “ Taberah Fire” because the Lord burned among them there.

The image of the fire of God burning among the people of Israel is a terrifying site to imagine.

What does all this mean to us as Christians?

John the Baptist prophesied that the one who would come after him that he would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16, Mark 1:8 NASV)

The baptism with the Holy Spirit, and fire, is to produce a change in us also as it did the children of Israel. This fire will consume that which is in opposition to the Lord, just as the murmuring was consume from the children of Israel.

In Acts chapter two when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place, we see tongues of fire resting on the one hundred and twenty who in the upper room . Not much is said about this specific experience that took place, but I feel it relates to what took place in the wilderness with the children of Israel.

The upper room could have been called “ Taberah Fire” because the Lord burned among them there.
This Taberath fire from the Lord that burned among them produced change, and power in the lives of the believers.

We see this most evident in Peter's life, the man who had denied Jesus because of fear now began to preach one of the greatest messages in the history of the Church. Three thousand souls were saved that day and the Taberath fire continued to burn among them and spread to the Gentile world also.

This promise of a baptism of fire is for every one of us today, when some one talks about us, or our churches may they say, “God burns among them there.”

It is amazing when the Taberath fire from the Holy Spirit touches a life and in a moment the addictions are broken, in a moment they receive the grace to forgive the unforgivable, those who are tormented with fears are st free, communities are changed, nations are brought to their knees.

Peter answered them, "All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. This promise belongs to you and to your children and to everyone who is far away. It belongs to everyone who worships the Lord our God." ( Acts 2;38-39 )

What happened that day at Pentecost can also be our experience today. “This promise belongs to you and to your children and to everyone who is far away. It belongs to everyone who worships the Lord our God.”

“And to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,” ( 2 Thessalonian s 1:7 )
"I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.” ( Daniel 7:9 )

Hebrews 12:29 says, “For our God is a consuming fire.”


Prayer
Father God you are a consuming fire among your people, you are Jehovah Taberah Fire, The Lord who burns among us and consumes all that is unholy in us, and burns up all those things that bind us up. We are under a baptism of fire by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Father not only consume the unholy things in our lives, but help us to allow that fire in us to consume those around us, releasing them from all that binds them also. Thank you for this awesome work of love you have done, are doing, and will do in our hearts and lives. In the name of Jesus amen

http://www.allaboutgod.net/profiles/blogs/taberah-fire

12. What judge of Israel was visited by an angel whose staff caused meat and bread to be consumed by fire?

Gideon




Judges 6:21


"Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand,
and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock,
and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight." KJV


The Call of Gideon


1. Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

2. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive,
the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.

3. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites,
Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.

4. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel,
neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.

5. They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts.
It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.

6. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.

7. When the Israelites cried to the Lord because of Midian,

8. he sent them a prophet, who said,
“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

9. I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors.
I drove them from before you and gave you their land.

10. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’
But you have not listened to me.”

11. The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite,
where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

12. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

13. “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?
Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’
But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

14. The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand.
Am I not sending you?”

15. “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh,
and I am the least in my family.”

16. The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

17. Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

18. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”

19. Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephahb of flour he made bread without yeast.
Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.

20. The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock,
and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.

21. With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat
and the unleavened bread.
Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.

22. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign Lord!
I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

23. But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

24. So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace.
To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25. That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd,
the one seven years old.
Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah poled beside it.

26. Then build a proper kind ofe altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height.
Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the secondf bull as a burnt offering.”

27. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family
and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

28. In the morning when the men of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole
beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!

29. They asked each other, “Who did this?”

When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

30. The men of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son.
He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31. But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause?
Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning!
If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.”

32. So that day they called Gideon “Jerub-Baal,” saying, “Let Baal contend with him,”
because he broke down Baal’s altar.

33. Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan
and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.

35. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali,
so that they too went up to meet them.

36. Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—

37. look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece
and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”

38. And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece
and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request.
Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”

40. That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Judges 6:1-40 NIV


===============================
In times of apostasy,
God often calls His mightiest servants from places of obscurity,
and inspiring them with the assurance of the divine presence,
He works through them great deliverances for His people.

Jehovah-shalom (God our peace)Jdg_6:24.

The peace of God, found alone in Christ who "is our peace," is the only preparation for intense conflict.

In the midst of strife,
one who has Christ for his peace, may be possessed of perfect tranquility within.
If the Christian is called to battle, let him set up the altar of Jehovah-Shalom.


==================================
Apostle Paul reminds us:


10, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
11, Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13, Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
14, Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15, And your feet shod
with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16, Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17, And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
hich is the word of God:
18, Praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:10-18

13. How did Elijah respond to an army captain's summons to present himself to King Ahaziah?

He called down fire from heaven on the captain and his men


2Kings 1:12

"And Elijah answered and said unto them,
If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven,
and consume thee and thy fifty.
And the fire of God came down from heaven,
and consumed him and his fifty."





2 Kings 1:1-17


Ahaziah's Messengers Meet Elijah



1, "Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.

2, And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick:
and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron
whether I shall recover of this disease.

3, But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers
of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel,
that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

4, Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up,
but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

5, And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?

6, And they said unto him,
There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you,
and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel,
that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

7, And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

8, And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.
And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

9, Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him:
and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.

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.

11, Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him,
O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

12, And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven,
and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

13, And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up,
and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee,
let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

14, Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties:
therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

15, And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him.
And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.

16, And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers
to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word?
therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

17, So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken."

14. What two men saw a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire?

Elijah and Elisha



2 Kings 2:11

"And it came to pass, as they still went on,
and talked, that, behold,
there appeared a chariot of fire,
and horses of fire,
and parted them both asunder;
and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."


1, And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind,
that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2, And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel.
And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.
So they went down to Bethel.

3, And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said,
Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

4, And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho.
And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.
So they came to Jericho.

5, And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered,
Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

6, And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan.
And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.
And they two went on.

7, And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off:
and they two stood by Jordan.

8, And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters,
and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9, And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha,
Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee,
let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10, And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee,
it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

11, And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire,
and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12, And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel,
and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes,
and rent them in two pieces.

13, He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

14, And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said,
Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither:
and Elisha went over.

15, And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said,
The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

16, And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee,
and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain,
or into some valley.
And he said, Ye shall not send.

17, And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send.
They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.
18, And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them,
Did I not say unto you, Go not?

19, And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant,
as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

20, And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

21, And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said,
Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.

22, So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

23, And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way,
there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head;
go up, thou bald head.

24, And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD.
And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
25, And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.





Those who know they are soon going to heaven should be concerned for those they are leaving behind
to carry on God's service and to leave with them their experiences, testimonies, counsels and prayers.


Those who ask for the mantle of and walk in the steps of their godly and faithful predecessors
will certainly experience the same grace. Jordan means "judgment" Christ and the believer go together
(2Ki_2:8) through the judgment of the cross. Gal_2:20; Rom_6:3.

15. Where, in answer to Elijah's prayer, did fire from the Lord consume both the sacrifice and the altar?

Mount Carmel

1 Kings 18: 16-40




1 Kings 18:

Obadiah Meets Elijah


1, And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying,
Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

2, And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

3, And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:

4, For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets,
and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

5, And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks:
peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

6, So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself,
and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7, And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face,
and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

8, And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9, And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10, As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee:
and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

11, And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

12, And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee,
that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab,
and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.

13, Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD,
how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14, And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

15, And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

16, So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17, And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

18, And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house,
in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

19, Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel,
and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred,
which eat at Jezebel's table.

20, So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21, And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions?
if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

22, Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD;
but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23, Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves,
and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock,
and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

24, And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD:
nd the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

25, And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves,
and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26, And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it,
and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us.
But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

27, And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god;
either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

28, And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets,
till the blood gushed out upon them.

29, And it came to pass, when midday was past,
and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice,
nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

30, And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him.
And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

31, And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob,
unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

32, And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar,
as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33, And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood,
and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34, And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time.
And they did it the third time.

35, And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36, And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near,
and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel,
and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37, Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God,
and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

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.

39, And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God;
the LORD, he is the God.

40, And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.
And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

41, And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42, So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;
and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing.
And he said, Go again seven times.

44, And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud
out of the sea, like a man's hand.
And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

45, And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind,
and there was a great rain.
And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46, And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.



Video: Elijah and the Fire From Heaven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HReEI4KjdTk

Revealing God's Treasure: Sodom & Gomorrah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG3QsisQrkc




22, So that the generation to come
of your children that shall rise up after you,
and the stranger that shall come from a far land,
shall say,
when they see the plagues of that land,
and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;

23, And that the whole land thereof is brimstone,
and salt, and burning, that it is not sown,
nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein,
like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim,
which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

24, Even all nations shall say,
Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land?
what meaneth the heat of this great anger?

25, Then men shall say,
Because they have forsaken the covenant
of the LORD God of their fathers,
which he made with them when he brought them forth
out of the land of Egypt:

26, For they went and served other gods,
and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not,
and whom he had not given unto them:

27, And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land,
to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:

28, And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger,
and in wrath, and in great indignation,
and cast them into another land, as it is this day.

29, The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:
but those things which are revealed belong unto us
and to our children for ever,
that we may do all the words of this law.