God of the Non-Consuming Fire
Alright, back to Moses and Exodus 3 today.
“1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up…”
God’s Spirit and presence is often represented by flame in the Bible - check out these examples.
Exod. 13:21, God leading the people through with a pillar of fire
Matt. 3:11-12, John the Baptist’s description of how the Messiah would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire”
Acts 2, Pentecost: “there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…”
1 Thess. 5:19: “Do not quench the Spirit” (in other words, don’t douse its fire with water)
What do you associate with the imagery of fire and flame? Is it primarily about warmth, comfort, usefulness/power (e.g., cooking, melting, transforming one thing into another) and light? Or do you also think about the dangers inherent in fire - its ability to burn and destroy?
Too often religion suggests to us a God that is not only powerful, but destructive - a spirituality that manipulates and devours us - absolutely burns us down. But what Moses experienced was God as a fire that burned AND did not consume. This God was both powerful and gentle. This God did not force - they invited Moses in.
How do you respond to this God of the non-consuming fire? Talk with Jesus about whatever is on your mind and heart.