The Bible consistently establishes the inseparable relationship between prayer and the fire of the Lord. By the way, the fire of the Lord also has two sides. Sometimes, it serves as a punitive measure against those who remain unrepentant. At other times, it is a sign of divine approval or a demonstration of God’s power. Let us illustrate both. For the umpteenth time, Numbers 11:1 shows Israel’s tendency to grumble. Only this time, God had had enough. So He sent fire which destroyed some of them. It was in response to that fire that Moses offered the  prayer recorded in our text, and the fire stopped. 

The Bible consistently establishes the inseparable relationship between prayer and the fire of the Lord…Prayer is the access to the fire of the Lord.

The power of prayer is also evident in other instances. Whereas prayer quenched fire in this place, it brought down the fire of the Lord in some other places. At the dedication of the temple, Solomon offered a lengthy and heartfelt prayer. In response, fire came down from heaven. “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.” (2Chronicles 7:1). Elijah’s experience also testifies to the connection between prayer and fire. On Mount Carmel, his prayer brought down a mighty fire that consumed the sacrifice, wood, stone and licked the water. When we are enjoined to be fervent in the spirit, it becomes clear that such spiritual intensity cannot take place outside the atmosphere of prayer. Prayer is the access to the fire of the Lord.