Consuming Fire
5 min read
13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” 15 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.
— 2 Kings 1:13-15
There’s a saying that goes, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” The point is that if you are trying to influence anyone to do anything, aggression may only get you aggression in return, but gentleness and humility will result in a favorable response. At the very least, you probably won’t get aggression in return.
Aggression begets aggression. Arrogance begets arrogance. Pride begets pride. And that is true more and more today.
The interactions between Elijah and the captains say something about the way that the world is versus the way that God would want the world to be. The way of the world is always about power and coercion. The way of God is always about humility and deference.
And of course, God’s way will win the day. One day, the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
Can that day be today through faith? Being “meek” in this day and age is so difficult, even for (or maybe, especially for) “men of God” who have been called into ministry. This world celebrates and rewards aggressive people, and so it is tempting for men of God to conform to that pattern in order to “lead” a church.
Most of the time, all I can do is to let the word of God speak. I dare not say, “If I am a man of God, …” But if I do, I know that God will vindicate me if vindication is in order. If not, God will discipline me.
Most of the time, all I can do is to let the word of God speak. If I try to make God’s word speak on my behalf, I do not speak as a man of God. I speak as my own man, and I am not walking the path of meekness.
But if I am a man of God through whom the word of God speaks, there is power in the word of God.
Aggression, arrogance, and pride against the word of God will bring a “consuming fire” down from heaven.
That “consuming fire” is the Spirit of Truth.
That “consuming fire” is a meek and gentle love for the children of God.
Most of the time, all I should do is to let the word of God speak and keep my mouth shut.
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
— Psalm 39:7
Father, You are the Consuming Fire! Teach us Your ways so that we may be blessed. Teach me Your ways so that I may be the man of God You have called me to be. In Jesus’s name. Amen.