Leviticus 9

"Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, 

they shouted for joy and fell face down."

{Leviticus 9:24}  (NIV1984)

Aaron and his sons did all that the LORD commanded. They obeyed Him to the letter of the Law. God had told them that if they did this properly, that God would accept these animal sacrifices in place, or as a substitute, for them. The issue was and is sin. Sin that separates us from a Holy God; sin that brings death. Sin that must be removed from God’s people. God’s people must be holy for He is Holy. 

This day was the day that the LORD would appear to them, and it must have been nerve-racking. Would God accept these sacrifices in their place? Would God really dwell in their midst? Their joy is recorded, when the fire came out of the manifest presence of the LORD and consumed the sacrifices instead of them.

God has accepted the sacrifice of His Son for us. God has chosen to dwell inside us. The consuming fire that comes from the manifest presence of God does not and will not consume us. But it does consume sin!  

Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire; is to be holy, set apart for you Lord, I choose to be holy, set apart for you my Master, ready to do your will.
{Brian Doerksen, 1990}