Fire from Heaven

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from heaven (Genesis 19:24). This was a response to the “outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah,” which was “very great” on account of their “exceedingly grave” sin (18:20). Presumably, the cry is the cry of the oppressed, or the cry of innocent blood that, like the blood of Abel, ascends to heaven calling for vengeance.

So the process is: Sodom sins; the oppressed cry out; angels show up to announce judgment; the Lord rains down fire from heaven.

Elsewhere in the Bible, though, human beings have power over fire. Twice Elijah calls fire from heaven (1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 1). Ahab’s Israel has become a Sodom, and so fire falls. This time, though, there are no angelic messengers, only the prophet Elijah, carrying out an angelic mission. (The false prophet in Revelation 13 is able to call fire from heaven too – a false Elijah.)

Perhaps we should think of it this way: Elijah not only plays the role of the angelic messenger, but embodies the cry for vengeance. The prophet is capable of calling fire from heaven because he gives voice to the oppressed. The prophet speaks for the blood of Abel, and this is why Abel is numbered among the martyred prophets (Luke 11:50-51).

And then we should add: When the Spirit comes, the whole church becomes a prophet-church. Which means we are called, together, to give voice to the oppressed of the earth.