August 28 - Isaiah 66:15-16

August 28 – Isaiah 66:15-16

See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the LORD.

Wow!  Just yesterday we were picturing God as a mother comforting her children and bringing as much peace as a swollen river is filled with water.

In a momentary flash, we change our imagery to a Lord that swiftly brings his anger and fury.  I don’t have any problem with this image in my mind.  I can easily picture a chariot flying through the sky at great speed with fire lashing behind as He moves.  An angry God is something I don’t want to ever see, but can definitely imagine!

Fire is an image that generally signifies the Lord’s presence.  In Exodus 19:18, the Lord descended in fire to bring the Commandments to Moses.  He traveled with the Israelites through the desert in cloud and in fire.

In 1 Chronicles 21:26 and in 2 Chronicles 7:1, both David and Solomon see the glory of the Lord as He comes in fire to consume their offerings and in 1 Kings 18:38, the Lord burns up Elijah’s offering even after it has been soaked with water during Elijah’s battle with the prophets of Baal.

Even in the New Testament, we see the Lord’s wrath on the ungodly being dealt with by fire (2 Thess. 1:8, 2 Peter 3:7-10).

We will see the Lord’s presence in fire.  Fire consumes sin, fire purifies.