Read Numbers 28 at Bible Gateway.
And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall bring to YHVH: male lambs of the first year without blemish, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering.’ Num 28:3
Today the Hebrew Root Words tool lights up this verse
First, the phrase ‘offering made by fire’ is the Hebrew word אשה (ishshaw, Strong’s H801). According to the ancient pictographs:
aleph א = ox head (strength, power, leader)
shin ש = two front teeth (sharp, press, eat, two, again)
hey ה = man with upraised arms (exclaim, reveal, wonder, worship, breath)
The parable the pictures tell, so that even a child can follow along, is of a strong (aleph) pressing down (shin), as in strong pressure applied from a wooden rod to a wooden board, and spun, to create wood dust and friction, resulting in embers, that is, a fire. The hey adds the element of worship, so an offering made by fire.
Next, ‘burnt offering’ is עלה (olah, Strong’s 5930, from the root עלה alah, Strong’s H5927, “to go up” or “ascend”).
ayin ע = eye (watch, know, shade)
lamed ל = shepherd’s staff (teach, yoke, to, bind)
hey ה = man with upraised arms (exclaim, reveal, wonder, worship, breath)
The parable is of experiencing (ayin) the yoke (lamed) as it was raised up upon the shoulders, as oxen are yoked together, or as captives were once chained. Thus rising up (ayin + lamed) in worship (hey), as of smoke from a burnt offering.
Both words share the same heartbeat: fire engulfing the worship.
Now let the Natural Pictures tool connect the dots:
When Moses came across the burning bush (Exo 3:1-4), seeing that the bush was burning, but not consumed, he turned aside to see this marvelous sight. God got his attention, and delivered to him his commission.
Fast forward to the Jordan River. John the Baptist said,
“I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luk 3:16
The water baptism is a Natural Picture illustrating the baptism of fire.
WHY THIS MATTERS.
That fire initiates a burning of worship, which goes up as a sweet aroma in YHVH’s nose; a continual burning that does not consume. And just like the burning bush, those around us notice, and ask, “What is different about that person?” Our everyday life becomes a platform of witness for God and His glory, without any extra effort on our part!
TEACHING TOOLS.
Hebrew Root Words, Natural Pictures
Numbers 28 Hebrew paragraphs.
28:1-8 {p} Daily offerings, morning and evening
28:9-10 {p} Offerings for the Sabbath
28:11-15 {s} Offerings for the new moon
28:16-25 {s} Offerings for Passover and Unleavened Bread
28:26-31 {p} Offerings for the Feast of Weeks
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