A Fire of Judgment

O. T. #320  "A Fire of Judgment"
July 14, 2014
Numbers 11-Part 2
And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.  Numbers 11:2

LET IT GLOW

On the fourth of July, we went to my brother in law's house to watch the city's fireworks display. We didn't want to fight the crowd and wanted a simple place to relax. His wife and I got a fire going in the pit in their back yard. S'mores were made, we enjoyed the glow, and the mosquitoes were kept away somewhat. This fire was enjoyable in that it didn't burn us. However, some of the Israelites got burned by a fire of judgment. Read on.

We read where the people complained and the Lord sent fire upon some of them. This was the first divine judgment since the golden calf punishment back in Exodus 32.
Now what?
The people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

What do we see here?

• Moses still loved the people.
• God still loved the people.
• The people knew where to turn, to their leader and intercessor.
• As a result in Moses' praying, God quenched the fire.

Where do we turn when we sin, and see the consequences of it? Do we seek God's forgiveness? Or do we hide it under the rug? Others are usually affected by our sins.

LET IT GROW

Did you read verse 3? That place was named Taberah, which means burning in Hebrew.
It was not going to be forgotten. Do we have reminders of our mistakes, our rebellion, our turning from the Lord? Perhaps it is in the form of a scar, a child, a lack of money, a broken relationship.

I Thessalonians 5:19 tells us, do not quench the Spirit.
In Greek, this word quench means extinguish, go out.

Are we on fire for the Lord, or do we let our enthusiasm go out?

LET IT GO

Submit to, not quench the Holy Spirit.

Let God's Word burn within me.