A Consuming Fire

Deuteronomy 4:1-31
Key Verse 4:24

‘For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.’

Recommend reading Numbers 25:1-9 to learn more about the Event of Baal-peor
And Exodus 19:9-20:21 to review what happened at Horeb (Mt Sinai)

Look at v.1-8.

1. What role did the “the statutes and the rules” play in the Israelites’ relationship with God?
2. What issue did the event of Baal-peor bring into their relationship with God? (Num 25:1-9) What happened to those who “held fast to the LORD”?
3. What greater purpose was the LORD thinking about, beyond His people, the Israelites?

Look at v.9-14.

4. What had the Israelites’ “eyes seen” that the LORD didn’t want them to forget?
5. Who was their knowledge of the LORD supposed to be passed to? Why?
6. What was the LORD’s intended purpose through the Israelites’ Horeb experience? (10)
7. Why is it important that the people not make an image in the form of any figure according to verse 15?

Look at v. 15-24.

8. What were the Israelites supposed to “watch [themselves] very carefully” about?
9. Why might Moses have reminded the people that the LORD is a “consuming fire, a jealous God”?
10. Why do you think fire is used as a symbol for the LORD?

Look at v.25-31

11. What ramification would result if the Israelites were to “act corruptly”?
12. Despite being a “consuming fire, a jealous God” what aspect of God’s character is revealed to those who repent? (31)