Leviticus 6:12-13

So, the fire was provided by God Himself. And thus, it was holy fire.

There had to be people serving the altar all the time to make sure that the fire never went out at all—ever. When they were going from place to place, they had to carry the fire in the fire-pans to make sure that it was fed constantly—so that the fire would never go out, because this fire was holy. It was from God. He had started it burning, and so it was holy fire.

Why is this?

You must remember that just as Hebrews 13:10 says that the altar is a symbol of God's table, the burning of the sacrifices represented God consuming these offerings as a meal. The fire, then, was the visible element that represented the personal action of God Himself. It was how people could see that God had accepted their sacrifice. The fire, then, had to originate from God to be truly meaningful because, if it was just like any common fire started by men, it would be tainted. It would be tainted, because men are sinful. It would be like men consuming the offering, not God. It would be totally ineffective. God had to be the One to consume the offering. And He did it with holy fire.

Leviticus 6:12-13

Are you getting the picture? Once God accepted the offering that was made in behalf of the priest during the consecration ceremonies that took place in Leviticus 9, when the fire came out from before the Lord and lit the wood underneath the offering that was on there, that fire was never allowed to go out. It had its source in God, and that fire had to be treated as if you were treating the Creator God. That fire came from Him, and it and it only was recognized and acceptable to Him.

I do understand a little bit about the fire under the altar. There is no indication that God was going to keep the fire going by a miracle. Remember, He told them, "You shall not let it go out." It was the priest's responsibility to keep it going, and that is why the warning is given not to let it go out.

Leviticus 6:11-13

In Leviticus 9:24 God lighted that fire. And that fire, because of being ignited by God, became holy fire, as though the Hand of God touched it. It was never to be allowed to go out. It had to be fed constantly in order to keep it from going out. The fire of God was always with them continuously. It was in the pillar of fire above and below; they were carrying it with them wherever they went.

Leviticus 6:12-13

That fire probably shot out right from the Tabernacle door, and it lit the fire on the brazen altar. That fire from that point on became holy fire, because a fire from the holy God lit it. They had express instructions: "It shall never go out." And as long as it burned it was holy fire.