Posted By: teresaq
"Fire from Heaven or God" - 02/12/24 07:58 AM
Who did it and by what means? As an aside I am by no means a KJV only person. It's just easier to look up and quote from it. Use whatever version makes you happy.
There was a time I accepted without question the literal (superficial) reading. Over time as I learned more, the same as all you others, I came to wonder and think deeper about any particular subject.
As a starter here are some texts. These first seem to be rather clear so I will leave them for the moment.
Leviticus 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
This fire would seem to clearly come from God. My question is by what means.
1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
These two texts now make me wonder if the fire literally came from God, or if they had reached the point that God gave them up to Satan for destruction, which does happen. In other words that Satan claimed them and God agreed. The next captain that came came with respect. The first two maybe came all cocky and pompous with ill intent which is why they had no protection from God?
2 Kings 1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
2 Kings 1:12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
There was a time I accepted without question the literal (superficial) reading. Over time as I learned more, the same as all you others, I came to wonder and think deeper about any particular subject.
As a starter here are some texts. These first seem to be rather clear so I will leave them for the moment.
Leviticus 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
This fire would seem to clearly come from God. My question is by what means.
1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
These two texts now make me wonder if the fire literally came from God, or if they had reached the point that God gave them up to Satan for destruction, which does happen. In other words that Satan claimed them and God agreed. The next captain that came came with respect. The first two maybe came all cocky and pompous with ill intent which is why they had no protection from God?
2 Kings 1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
2 Kings 1:12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.