Leviticus 6:1–8:36
“Adonai said to Moshe, ‘Give this order to Aharon and his sons: This is the law for the burnt offering: it is what goes up on its firewood upon the altar all night long, until morning; in this way the fire of the altar will be kept burning’” (Leviticus 6:1-2).
In Hebrew, tzav means ‘give an order.’ After explaining the different offerings, Adonai gives more specific instructions for each korban.
Korban olah – Burnt Offering
The korban olah was ‘to go up’ throughout the night until morning. In the morning, the priest kindled more wood on the Altar of Sacrifice, arranged another burnt offering and made the fat of the peace offering go up in smoke. It was the responsibility of the priesthood to keep the fire burning on the Altar continuously, never to go out.
The priest wore his linen shorts and outer garments to make the offering. However, when the time came to remove the ashes from the Altar and take them outside the camp, he changed his clothes. Just as there are different clothes for a wedding and taking out the garbage, there are different garments for administering offerings to Elohim and taking out the ash remains of those offerings.
“Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. For indeed, ‘Our God is a consuming fire!’” (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Fire is a symbol of the Divine Presence of Adonai. In the bush that didn’t burn, Moshe encountered the presence of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. The presence of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh was in the column of fire that led the Israelites during the night as they trekked through the wilderness. When Adonai gave His Torah, the mountain was covered in smoke and fire.
The prophet Jeremiah speaks about the burning fire of the Ruach Elohim in his heart, “But if I say, ‘I won’t think about him, I won’t speak in his name any more,’ then it seems as though a fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I wear myself out trying to hold it in, but I just can’t do it” (Jeremiah 20:9). When the Ruach haKodesh came upon the Jews in Jerusalem on Shavuot, it looked like tongues of fire.
The refining fire of trials prove a person’s faith (1 Peter 1:7). When gold is refined in fire, the dross or silver is removed transforming it into pure gold. When the fire of the Ruach haKodesh convicts us of sin, its purpose is to remove the impurities that separate us from Elohim. Sha’ul warns the Thessalonians not to quench the ‘fire of the’ Ruach Elohim” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When the Ruach Elohim is quenched, it does not allow for the refining fire to do its work –– transforming us into pure gold to become ‘Kadosh l’Adonai.’ The offering of ourselves as living sacrifices becomes a pleasing aroma to Adonai, “I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set-apart for Adonai. This will please him; it is the logical Temple worship for you” (Romans 12:1).
Hebrew Word Pictures
Fire or esh – אש – alef, shin
– first strength consumes
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