The All-Consuming “God of Fire”. Part I

A somewhat perplexing episode is recorded in Genesis 4: 4. “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD [YHVH] had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” [Emphasis added throughout.]

What was the sign that Cain’s sacrifice was not favourably considered or acceptable to the Eternal?

It's on occasions like these that a little understanding of Hebrew is useful. The words “had respect” in the Hebrew signifies to look at anything with an earnest and keen interest; to consider favourably. This Hebrew expression also translates as "kindle into a fire” (JFB).

We therefore deduce from that expression that the sign of acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice was manifested by the Eternal consuming it [literally, “eat” it] by fire.

Abel’s male “firstlings of his flock” [a lamb or goat] belonged to the Eternal. Yehovah declared it holy – i.e. separated – unto Himself for a burnt offering. It was His way of fellowshipping with His people. [This custom is still in effect to this day in the observance of the “Lord’s Supper”, the Eucharist or the Passover, depending on religious orientation.] The sacrifice and offering of the firstling was a token of respect, honour, worship and fellowshipping with the Eternal over a symbolic meal. It was meant for His delight and consumption. He consumed [eat it up] by fire. This was the law before the priesthood was officially established in Israel.

A point to note: The Eternal never relinquished his right to the firstlings; it remained His forever. When the priesthood was established He assigned the firstlings to the priests, they being His appointed literal and spiritual representatives on earth, doing His work among His people. These facts are clearly outlined in Exodus 13:12; 34:19; Leviticus 27:26 [stating God’s claim of the firstlings] and Numbers 18:12-15 [assigning the firstfruits as the priests’ portion for doing the work of God].

Conversely, Cain's offering was not consumed by the Eternal’s heavenly fire. The Eternal did not eat of it thus demonstrating that it was not accepted or approved by Him.

Scripture evidences the fact that this was the Eternal’s established way of showing approval and acceptance of offerings made to Him. It was a ritualistic or ceremonial procedure instituted by the Eternal Himself and is frequently highlighted in the sacred texts.

We will consider a few episodes where the Bible records such incidents of acceptance by fire. It demonstrated the Eternal’s sign of acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice, and, naturally, the converse. When the Eternal's fire did not consume his offering of grain, Cain knew that the Almighty did not eat or feast at his table. His grain offering was rejected. The Eternal’s fire did not manifest itself in approval or acceptance.

It is not as if Cain was the victim of the Eternal’s unpredictable fickleness or whimsical favoritism. They understood the meaning of the sacrifices otherwise why would they both engage in offering and that at the same time of the year – when the lambs were old enough and the grain ripe? Were they observing ante-typically a pre-Sinaitic annual festival of Yehovah as commanded in Leviticus 23?

Consider another case. When the Eternal made a covenant with Abraham He confirmed acceptance of Abraham’s five sacrifices [a heifer, she goat, ram, dove and young pigeon (a nestling) -- Gen 15:9] by manifesting flames and a fiery lamp. Notice the text: “And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace [a fiery pot or cauldron], and a burning [flaming] lamp passed between those pieces” [of the sacrifice]. [Gen 15:17.]

This approval and acceptance by fire became the Eternal’s customary post-Edenic manifestation of His presence and acceptance and favor. Six centuries after Abraham this God-ordained rite is again confirmed when we read that the Eternal proved his positive flaming acknowledgement of the sacrifices offered by Aaron and Moses.

“And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. … And there came a fire out from before the LORD [YHVH], and consumed (Hebrew, akal) upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces” [Lev 9:22 -24].

The Hebrew word “akal” translated consume have both positive and negative connotations. Positively it means to dine, eat, and feed. This in context of the sacrifices of Abel, Abraham, Moses, and later David, and sacrifices at the tabernacle or temple, was indicative of dining with the Eternal in familial fellowship. Negatively it means to destroy, or consume as punishment for wickedness, as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah [Genesis 19:23 ff. and see, inter alia, Exodus 32:10, 12 and 33:3, 5].

Another significant episode where a sacrifice was accepted by consuming it by divine fire is preparatory to the birth of Samson. An angel from the Eternal appeared to Samson's hitherto barren mother informing her that she will bring forth a son who should be raised as a Nazarite. Samson's father Manoah, in appreciation, offered a sacrificial freewill-offering -- in honor of Yehovah’s mercy and in thankfulness. The Eternal, yet again, confirmed His acceptance by fire.

We read in Judges 13:19-20: "So Manoah took a kid with a meal [flower] offering, and offered it upon a rock unto YEHOVAH and the angel did wondrously …” He did something miraculous. Doing what? As “Manoah and his wife looked on … the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, [and] the angel of Yehovah ascended in the flame …"

This incident again illustrates the fact that a positive acceptance of an offering by the Eternal is by fire.

About 2830 years after the Eternal burned up Abel’s sacrifice – “dining” with Abel – He accepted David’s sacrifice by fire. It is recorded: "And David built there an altar unto Yehovah and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings … and he answered him from heaven by fire …” [1Chronicles 21:26].

Approximately 130 years later the Eternal displayed His acceptance by fire when the illustrious prophet Elijah confronted the erotically perverse, religiously syncretistic prophets of Baal. This episode occurred about 2960 years after the Eternal accepted Abel’s sacrifice by fire. These episodes demonstrate the Eternal’s consistency of character by positively responding with fire when accepting people’s sacrifices.

The case is succinctly stated in 1Kings 18:38: "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." The nation was awe-struck and “fell on their faces” in fear and reverence [verse 39]. Indeed, as Elijah declared to them earlier, Yehovah is “the God that answers by fire” [verse 24].

The Eternal’s method of manifesting his approval of a sacrifice has not altered in over 3000 years. His character and responses are the same yesterday, today and for ever [Heb 13:8]. As He accepted Abel’s sacrifice so He accepted the sacrifices of His servants throughout the millennia.

Towards the humble and obedient He responds positively, even though it may be frightening in its manifestation. Consider the Israelites at Mount Sinai who, when the Eternal appeared in fire at the giving of His holy law cried out to Moses, saying: “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” They were fear-struck when they “saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off” [Exo 20:18-20].

To the humble and obedient He manifests Himself as a merciful accepting God by dining with them at the table of sacrifice – at the altar of fire. But, to the disobedient, the covenant breakers, to those who like Cain, do not wish to follow His instructions, He is a frightening God, instilling fear by consuming and destroying by fire.

Yes, even in the New Testament era of grace the Eternal Creator God remains a consuming God of fire to those who do not fear Him!

It should be remembered that it is the so-called “apostle of grace”, Paul, who emphatically stated that for us to receive an unshakable and everlasting kingdom inheritance, we must “worship God acceptably – though with godly fear and awe [like Abel] – for our God is an utterly consuming fire.” [See Moffatt at Hebrews 12:28-29.]

The God of the bible – the whole bible! – remains the same yesterday, today and forever. He remains the God of fire. Should we therefore not serve Him with fear and in awe of His eternal fire?

The answer it simple, uncomplicated, and awesome if not awe-inspiring, if we are only willing to believe the straightforward statement of the New Testament apostles. To be received and accepted by the Eternal – to be dined by him or be destroyed by Him is a personal choice. Just like Cain and Abel we have the right to that choice.

The right choice depends on our heart, our attitude, our willingness to believe what the scripture teaches instead of the traditions of the churchian philosophers and tradition-wrecked theologians.

As always, your life is yours, your future is yours, your eternity is yours, and the choice is yours!