Fire

Throughout the scriptures fire often marks the very presence of God among his people, as when it appeared unconsumed in the bush to call Moses or descended to affirm Elijah on Mount Carmel. This symbol reaches its New Testament fulfillment when tongues of fire rest upon the disciples at Pentecost, empowering them with the Spirit for the spread of the gospel. As the consuming fire that both purifies the faithful and judges the rebellious, it underscores the holiness of God who refines his own while destroying all that opposes his redemptive purposes.

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Symbolizes: God's presence, purification, judgment, the Holy Spirit

Old Testament Type

The burning bush that was not consumed - God's presence (Exodus 3:2)

New Testament Fulfillment

Tongues of fire at Pentecost - the Holy Spirit's purifying, empowering presence (Acts 2:3)

Key Passages

Burning Bush

Exodus 3:2-4

A²nd 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.

Fire on Carmel

1 Kings 18:38

T³⁸hen 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.

Tongues of Fire

Acts 2:3-4

A³nd there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Our God Is a Consuming Fire

Hebrews 12:29

F²⁹or our God is a consuming fire.

Did You Know?

Fire represents both the presence and the purity of God. The burning bush, the pillar of fire, the fire on the altar, and the tongues of fire at Pentecost all reveal God as a consuming fire.

Fire refines and fire destroys. For the believer, the fire of God purifies. For the unrepentant, it consumes. The same fire that warms also warns.

The fire that fell at Pentecost did not burn up the disciples. It filled them. The Spirit is the fire of God who sanctifies and empowers rather than destroys.