A Consuming Fire

From The Christian Reader:

A Consuming Fire


And 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. (Exodus 3:2)



There is yet another part of this significant type to be considered, equally important and rich in the view it conveys of the glory of Jesus in His work. “And he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” The symbol of fire was expressive of the holiness and justice of God. It is thus frequently employed—”The Lord your God is a consuming fire.” “And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire.” “Our God is a consuming fire.” But that which formed the greatest wonder—which riveted the eye, and attracted and enchained the feet of Moses to the spot, was the bush unconsumed. “And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”





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But a more marvelous and stupendous spectacle meets us in the cross of Christ—Jesus enduring the fire of His Father’s wrath; wrapped in the flame of His justice, and yet unconsumed! Let us turn aside from all inferior objects, and for a while contemplate this “great sight.” It is indeed a great sight! The Son of God is bound upon the altar as a “burned-offering”—a sacrifice for sin. The fire of Divine justice descends to consume Him; holiness in fearful exercise heaps on its fuel, and the flame and the smoke ascend in one vast column before the throne of the Eternal, “an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” But behold the astonishment! Jesus suffering, and yet rejoicing! dying, and yet living! consuming, and yet unconsumed! These prodigies marked the offering up of our great High Priest upon Calvary. The dark billows of sorrow rolled over the human soul of Christ, but the Godhead remained calm and peaceful, its tranquility unruffled by a wave of grief, its sunshine undimmed by a cloud of darkness. He thus passed through all these throbs, and throes, and agonies of death, descended into the grave, rose again, lived, and still lives, the Fountain of life to the created universe. Behold the GOD! Say you, He is a mere creature? Preposterous thought! Mad conception! Soul-destructive belief! Had He been less than Divine, suffering as He did for sin, the devouring fire would have consumed Him in its quenchless flame.



To a heart-broken sinner, how attractive and glorious is this spectacle of an almighty Redeemer, sustaining the wrath, and suffering the justice of God for transgression! Mourning soul! turn aside, and behold yet again this “great sight.” “Put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place whereon you stands is holy ground.” Lay aside your fleshly reasoning, your carnal views of self-justification, self-salvation, and human power. Put off all your fleshly ideas of God, of His grace, and of His goodness; divest yourself of all your unbelieving and hard thoughts of His power, willingness, and readiness to save you. Thus prepared, approach—gaze—wonder—and adore! No one can stand on this holy ground, but he who stands on his own nothingness; none are welcome here but the poor, the empty, the bankrupt, and the vile. Are you all this? Is this your case? Then draw near! God will speak from amid the flame of the sacrifice, and say to you, “Fear not!”



Dear tried and suffering reader, do you resemble this burning bush? Are you in the fire, passing through the furnace? Does some strong temptation assail you—some sore trial oppress you—some deep sorrow wound you? He who dwelt in the bush, dwells in you! and He who kept the bush unconsumed amid the flame, will keep you! Let your greatest care and deepest solicitude be to “glorify God in the fires.” Be more prayerful for sustaining and sanctifying grace, than for the removal of your trial. This will bring richer glory to God. Beseech your Father that the flame may not be extinguished until the alloy is consumed, and the tried gold has come forth reflecting more vividly from its surface the image of Jesus—your soul partaking more deeply of the Divine holiness.



by Octavius Winslow, from Evening Thoughts