“…When thou walk through fire, you shall not be scorched; through flame it shall not burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 44:2
The Fire of God
The image of fire appears repeatedly throughout the Bible. Unlike the other elements of earth, air and water, only fire creates, destroys and transforms. Abraham carried the fire with him to sacrifice Isaac. God revealed Himself through the burning bush that was consumed, yet did not burn. The Golden Calf is created from fire. Aaron’s sons are killed by fire. The image of fire also reverberates in the modern day. During the Holocaust, Jews were shoved into ovens, the flames causing soot to darken the skies, as their ashes disappeared across frozen lands. In Israel, the unsung heroes are the firefighters who operate on a slim budget to put out deadly fires caused by Arab arsonists, faulty electricity in poorly constructed buildings, house and car accidents, forest fires, terror attacks.
The Hebrew letters rise like an everlasting flame that will not go out. Higher and higher, in burning fire, the letters climb to reach the top. And, what is at the top but the Yud, the Hebrew letter for the word of God? God creates fire. He uses it to communicate when His Chosen People do not listen and obey. He uses these deadly flames to set boundaries, to instill fear in Him. Fear of the Lord is essential because without this fear, man may fear man and not God. Is there a fear of consequences, the price to be paid for acting badly, knowing the difference between good and evil, keeping in check one’s arrogance and shadow without this fear of God? “The secrets of the Lord [He reveals] to those who fear Him; and He makes His Covenant known to them.” Psalm 25.
The burning bush, a traveling cloud, through multiple visions and dreams He sends, in untamed fires and winds and storms, through synchronicity and unfinished prayers, He guides and admonishes and is all around. He communicates daily without sound. Sometimes He feels distant and far away and, at other times protective and close at hand. God materializes out of nowhere when we are astray, but like fire that hurts when we least expect, God burns us so we Remember Never To Forget.