“For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar.” Judges 13:20
Fire in the Bible, as it relates to the Lord, is a very important subject. Scripture tells us that our God is a “consuming fire.” (Heb. 12:29) What does this tell us about God? For mankind, fire is a characteristic of the nature of God, and its effect on sin. It is also that means of demonstrating the holiness of God, whether it be in God’s calling of men to Himself, and their equipping by the Spirit of God for service, or the very manner by which He demonstrates that He is God. When the fire of God fell upon the sacrifice that Elijah had prepared before the people of Israel, and the prophets of Baal, it was for the purpose of not only demonstrating the holiness of God, but that He was the only true and living God. When God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush, the consuming fire did not burn up the bush, but captivated the interest of Moses. It was out of this fire that God spoke, again to demonstrate, as He later told Moses to remove the sandals from his feet, that the place where he stood was holy, for God was holy. Again, it is out of fire that God commissions Moses for the task that he is to perform in the delivering of the people of Israel from Egypt. In the case Isaiah, it will be by a burning coal that is laid upon his lips, that his iniquity is taken away, and he becomes prepared to be the mouthpiece of God for his generation, even unto this day. There is also the matter of the fire consuming an offering, or sacrifice, indicating and confirming God’s acceptance of the one who offers that sacrifice. The fire of God consuming the sacrifice was His testimony to the one making the sacrifice, that not only was the sacrifice accepted by God, but that the corresponding blessing and power of that acceptance was immediately provided.
In the case of the life of Samson, his birth and calling, God took the initiative to reveal Himself to Manoah’s wife. The Lord came to her as “…a man of God,” whose countenance was like that of an angel. His appearance was so commanding that she did not even ask him where he was from, nor what his name was. The Lord told her what she must do in order for His purposes to be realized in the coming child, for Samson was not yet born. After speaking to her of the Nazarite vow, first with regard to her as Samson’s mother, but then concerning Samson, the man of God told her that Samson “…shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5) The culminating moment of the meeting between Manaoh, his wife, in the presence of the Angel of the Lord, was when they offered to God a sacrifce. It was then, when the flame of fire went from the altar towards heaven, that the Angel ascended in the flame of the altar. (13:20) Not only was their sacrifice accepted before God, but there was the testimony of the Angel’s authority and power. The application of this event would be seen, not only in the wife of Manoah being faithful to her calling, and respecting the Nazarite vow that her son would be partaker of, but most importantly by the presence and power of the Spirit of God, who would later begin to move, or stir up Samson. That powerful “moving” was the prelude to the ministry of Samson as judge in Israel. The power given by the Spirit to Samson at that time was such that he conquered all of his enemies in battle, thus establishing the testimony of God in Israel.
The fire of God, the Spirit of God, falls today as it did in Samson’s day, certainly upon a consecrated sacrifice.
Dear Father, Fill us with Thy fire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.