The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

THE FIRE FROM THE LORD

The Israelites were prone to complain against the Lord and his anointed leaders. At an earlier stage, only three days after their miraculous deliverance from the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, they murmured against God because they lacked water (Ex 15:22 – 24). Here, after another three-day journey, they complained again (for unspecified reasons). Their complaints demonstrated a failure to trust God to meet the needs of his people, even though he had always cared for them. This act of rebellion necessitated the judgment of God, which came in the form of fire from the Lord that consumed some of the people. The dual attributes of God’s judgment and his mercy are on display. Some of the people on the outskirts of the camp were destroyed, but not all of the people throughout the camp. The fire from the Lord is both an act of judgment and a warning to the entire nation.

Fire is symbolic of the judgment of God against the contamination of sin (Ge 19:24). During his earthly ministry, two of Jesus’ disciples asked him if they should call down fire from heaven to consume an inhospitable Samaritan village. Jesus, however, rebuked the disciples (Lk 9:51 – 55).

The coming day of the Lord, at the end of this age, will be marked by the same fire of judgment (2Pe 3:10). This fire will purge the earth and all created things from the contamination brought about by sin. Those who remain hostile to God will be destroyed and thrown “into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 13:49 – 50).

These dire warnings function like the fire seen in Numbers 11. They demonstrate the unrivaled holiness of God and his utter hatred of the sins that deface his good, created order. However, God in his goodness allows time for those who do not know him to believe. His Word urges people to turn to him while it is still “Today” (Heb 3:12 – 13). Additionally, an urgency is placed on believers to make Jesus known to those who do not know him. The Lord desires that no one on earth would perish (Jn 3:16; 2Pe 3:9).

Jesus, thank you for your goodness and for your patience with us. I pray that the people in my life who do not know you would turn to you today, before it is too late. Put a sense of urgency in my heart and in theirs. Amen.