Karen 'Girl' FridayJanuary 19, 2023

God’s Consuming Fire Over Modern Idolatry

Our God is the one true God, a consuming fire.

I stepped into the oversized paws and pulled the furry costume over my legs and inserted my arms.

An excited group of pre-schoolers gathered around me to meet Smokey Bear. My son, Caleb, three-years-old at the time, hugged one of my legs.

While I patted his head, he remained clueless Mom stood underneath Smokey’s fur, blue jeans, and forestry hat.

Smokey spent the last 75 years telling kids not to play with matches and how to prevent wildfires.

Although my bear-costume-wearing days ended, I still possess a healthy fear of fire.

Consuming Fire From Heaven

A favorite Bible story describes a showdown of epic proportions involving fire from heaven.

King Ahab reigned over Israel. Sent by the Lord, the prophet Elijah told Ahab he troubled all of Israel because he “abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.” 1 Kings 18:18b (ESV, emphasis added)

Elijah called for all of Israel to gather at Mount Carmel along with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah (verse 19).

Then, Elijah spoke on God’s behalf.

“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.’” 1 Kings 18:21-22 (ESV, emphasis added)

Now, for the showdown details.

The prophets of Baal and Elijah each prepared an altar with wood and a bull by cutting the animal in pieces—with no fire put to it. Instead, Elijah gave instructions to “call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” (verse 24, ESV, emphasis added)

Though the prophets of Baal began by preparing the altar and offering. And calling out to their god from morning until noon, there was no voice, and no one answered. (verse 26, ESV)