In the ancient Near East, the distinction between the divine realm and the material world was not always clear. In Mesopotamia, statues, kings, and even cultic utensils could become "gods" in their own right. Certain biblical traditions show this idea as well. Yhwh appears as a human during visitations to Abraham and Jacob (Gen 18:1-2 and 32:25-31). Yhwh also can act through objects (Gen 15:17; 1 Sam 5:1-5). This suggests that, in Israel as in Mesopotamia, a distinction between humans and gods was one of status more than ontology. Throughout the ancient Near East, religious literature included motifs that emphasized divine status, such as power, size, wonder-working ability, and the possession of numinous qualities. In Israel, these divine "status symbols" were frequently storm motifs like cloud, precipitation, and fire. Fire was one of the most common, perhaps because, being vivid and powerful, it shared Yhwh's life-giving, transformative, yet dangerous qualities. In certain narratives, fiery motifs accompany an embodied divine presence. At other times, fiery phenomena are the sole perceptible indications of divine presence. As a motif of divinity, fire can symbolize divine agency even functioning at a distance from Yhwh or shared with a secondary agent like an angel, tool, or weapon. Israel's extensive use of fire in the cult gives witness to similar traditions. Divine fire accompanies each new cultic inauguration in the Hebrew Bible. A tradition in Leviticus suggests that this fire remained continuously burning and served as a "gate" that allowed God to received portions of the cultic offering. In the Hebrew Bible, fire was thus a "status symbol" of divinity, drawn from traditional storm motifs and ancient conventions of divine embodiment. In its vivid ethereal appearance and power to give, transform, and take life, it symbolized the presence and agency of Yhwh, the God of Israel.

Your God is a Devouring Fire: Fire as a Motif of Divine Presence and Agency in the Hebrew Bible (Catholic Biblical Quarterly Monograph)

Religion & Spirituality

Simone, Michael

Christian Books & Bibles

Catholic Biblical Association

Who’s flying your plane? Do you know who you are and where you’re going? Everyone needs courage and hope. Everyone experiences wobbly moments of faith. Everyone needs to make the next move that changes everything—that changes the future. Altitude will fly you over eight moves that will change the trajectory of your life. Altitude’s theme is Your Next Move Changes Everything. The chapters reflect what every person struggles with: how to craft a life of meaning and purpose. Altitude is written by teaching pastor Michael Simone, using successful sermons and teachings. Combined with his poignant letters God and the study guide, Altitude will apply transformational moves to help individuals and church groups.

Altitude: Your Next Move Changes Everything

Koehler Books

Who's flying your plane? Do you know who you are and where you're going? Everyone needs courage and hope. Everyone experiences wobbly moments of faith. Everyone needs to make the next move that changes everything-that changes the future. Altitude will fly you over eight moves that will change the trajectory of your life. Altitude's theme is Your Next Move Changes Everything. The chapters reflect what every person struggles with: how to craft a life of meaning and purpose. Altitude is written by teaching pastor Michael Simone, using successful sermons and teachings. Combined with his poignant letters God and the study guide, Altitude will apply transformational moves to help individuals and church groups.

Altitude: Your next move changes everything

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Simone, Michael. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Simone, Michael

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Simone, Michael. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Your God is a Devouring Fire: Fire as a Motif of Divine Presence and Agency in the Hebrew Bible (Catholic Biblical Quarterly Monograph)

Altitude: Your Next Move Changes Everything

Altitude: Your next move changes everything