Welcome all – we will be at the Tynemouth Castle this week at 7:30pm – The place is a maze so please look around for the group when you get there.
Burning bushes, pillars of fire, tongues of fire, smoking firepots and blazing torches, fire mountains! There is a lot of symbolism in the bible that uses fire as a sign of divine presence. Since ancient times, light and fire have held profound symbolic meaning in human spirituality. They often represent the mysterious, powerful, and comforting presence of the divine. In Greek mythology Zeus forbids Prometheus from giving humans fire, because he wanted humans to always worship the gods and thought that with fire they may become too powerful and one day not need them. In other ancient myths and stories fire is used in different ways but it has always held a place of fascination for humanity.
Two of the most well known stories in the bible are of Moses and the burning bush and the pillar of fire that guides the Israelites in the desert. In the burning bush we have a bush ablaze yet not consumed that catches Moses attention and becomes the place where he encounters God (Exodus 3). Here, fire symbolises holiness: something utterly other, fascinating yet fearsome. The flame burns brightly but doesn’t destroy, suggesting that divine presence brings transformation without annihilation. This encounter doesn’t just reveal God; it calls Moses into action, becoming a turning point that sets him on a path to lead his people to freedom. Similarly, the pillar of fire that guides the Israelites by night (Exodus 13:21) carries rich symbolism. It is light in darkness, presence in uncertainty, and assurance in wandering. The fire is dynamic — it moves ahead of the people — reminding us that the divine is not static but leads, guides, and journeys alongside.
If you asked people today, many would talk of their fascination with fire. Wood burners, campfires, bonfires and candles are as popular as ever. Is this because fire and the light and heat they bring continue to fascinate people and speak of something of God to them. You will often find people mesmerised by fire, staring at the dancing flames as they consume the wood or the light of a candle dance in the breeze. Light and fire continue to be powerful symbols today: candles lit in churches, flames passed on at vigils, and lamps kept burning in sacred spaces all point to hope, guidance, and divine nearness. They remind us that, like Moses, we may encounter the holy in unexpected places, and like the Israelites, we are called to trust the guiding light even when the path is unclear.
Ultimately, light and fire invite us to notice, to pause, and to follow — carrying a spark of the divine into our everyday lives.
Questions
- When was the last time you found yourself just staring into a fire, candle, or campfire? What were you thinking or feeling?
- What strikes you most about the burning bush being ablaze yet not consumed?
- How might the pillar of fire have made the Israelites feel as they travelled through the desert?
- Why do you think fire and light continue to captivate us, even in our modern world full of electric light?
- Have you ever experienced a moment where a light, flame, or fire seemed to carry spiritual meaning or comfort for you?
- The burning bush called Moses to act. Has there been a moment in your life when you felt ‘called to action’ by something unexpected?
- The pillar of fire moved ahead of the people. What does it mean to you to follow a light you don’t control?
- What might it look like to “carry a spark of the divine” into your everyday life this week?
Photo by Vlad Bagacian: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lit-bonfire-outdoors-during-nighttime-1368382/
Has been a part of BeachcomberFX since his arrival in the North East in 2014. He is well travelled (at least in the UK) having lived in Manchester, Nottingham, Derbyshire, Southport, Doncaster, Berwick and Edinburgh. Supporter of Newcastle United, will watch any sport.