How Dragons Breathe Fire

With great apprehension, the white-bearded patriarch pulled back the curtain, and entered the elaborately decorated, leather topped tent that was the Holy Tabernacle. Bright flames flickered from the seven spouts of the imposing, intricately wrought candelabrum, and their reflections danced like a thousand points of light on the iridescent, blood-red scales of the great creature whose coiled body perfectly filled the antechamber. Well-sated by its recent, substantial meal of several sacrificial calves, lambs, and the first born children of those who could not pay the prescribed ransom of gold or silver as dictated in the Holy Scriptures, the beast noisily snored until the man neared the tent. Now there was a deathly silence.1

The patriarch went to his knees, and in a whisper implored, "Lord of Lords, your servant speaks".2

With the acute senses of a consumate predator, the beast had heard the man's tread even on the soft desert sand was now wide awake. The cat-like, but intelligent golden orbs were now open, and bore down upon the fearful man. Great scaly lips parted, revealing rows of teeth, each as large and sharp as a fine Egyptian dagger. A oily black, forked tongue, as long and as broad as man's leg, tasted the air, withdrew, and then in a deep, resonating voice, the creature replied, "Why do you disturb my rest, Moses?"3

With an unsteady voice, the old white beard stammered, "Lord of Lords, the people grow disaffected again. They complain of the monotony of the manna you feed them, while you daily consume their finest livestock. Few still have treasure from Egypt to ransom their first-born, that you demand, and the harshness of the desert becomes intolerable. Some think they were better off as slaves in Egypt, and wish to return if they are not brought soon to the Promised Land."4

The great reptile licked the air again, and said "I sense people outside the tabernacle who are not my priests. Are they the disaffected ones?"5

The Patriarch replied with unease. "Y-yes oh Lord, and they demand an audience to voice their displeasure." 6

"So be it", the reptile flatly stated. "Let them feel the fiery wrath of their Lord".7

Moses shook his head in affirmation, and asked, "The oil skin, Lord?".8

The dragon gave a grunting nod and then gaped wide its terrible jaws. Moses entered the second, smaller room, and removed the lid to the magnificent gold-sheathed, wooden ark that reposed in honor there. Among the dragon's treasures of silver and gold baubles, he lifted out a large, heavy, liquid-filled vessel, fashioned from the entire skin of a young calf, but where the head would have been was a fine bronze spigot, bound to the calf's neck with sinew and pine resin. He also removed a polished white object that looked all the world like one of the great creature's teeth, only this one was hollow and fashioned from elephant ivory.9

The Patriarch hefted the heavy calfskin into the dragon's mouth, carefully positioning it on the base of the forked tongue where it broadened considerably, with the bronze spigot facing outwards. Then he loosened the hardwood cork, and filled the hollow ivory tooth with the flammable liquid, replaced the cork, and carefully inserted the ivory tooth in an empty socket in the very front of the reptile's bottom jaw. He then inserted a common lamp wick of twisted linen into the tip of the faux tooth and set it alight with a small branch that he ignited with the flame of the wondrous, seven branched oil lamp. The dragon carefully closed his jaws enough to conceal the calfskin, and with his snout, pushed Moses toward the tent flap.10

The Patriarch strode out before the assembled dissidents, each of whom had carried out of respect for their Lord, a bronze censer that burned aromatic incense. Moses shouted, "Woe to you for your disaffection and ingratitude. Now feel the wrath of your Lord!"11

With that, the great 'fiery flying serpent" uncoiled out of the tent entrance like a flowing river of glistening red scales. It raised up on its haunches, spread its great wings, lowered its head, and gently squeezed the calfskin with its tongue against its pallete, causing the cork to pop out, and a great stream of oil to spew forth, igniting, when it reached the flaming ivory tooth-lamp.12

The dissidents screamed as the plume of flames enveloped them. The multitude of Israelites who witnessed the event, were awed by the magical power of their Lord, and for a long while, complained no more of their hardships. So memorable was the event that it would be recorded in the scriptures that we now call the Holy Bible:13

Numbers 16:35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.14

And to confirm where the fire came from:
Pslams 18:8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth.15