THE GOD OF FIRE

THE GOD OF FIRE 

"An offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah" Lev. 3:5

These words, "of a sweet savor," are used with reference to the first three offerings, THE BURNT OFFERING, THE MEAL OFFERING, AND THE PEACE OFFERING. They are not used of the SIN OFFERING or of the TRESPASS OFFERING. Every one of these offerings was made by FIRE. In the case of the first three the FIRE brings out the savor; in that of the last two it destroys. The suggestiveness of all this, it is impossible to escape. Fire is pre-eminently a symbol of God, and of certain facts about His character and activities. Invariably it speaks of some aspect or activity of His HOLINESS. It is a symbol of what He is as the Holy One, in that only thing which is in conformity with that nature can live in His presence. It is therefore a symbol of His WRATH as He consumes that which is contrary to His nature. It is also a symbol of CLEANSING in that He PURIFIES from all alloys those things which do conform to His character. Therefore, the offerings which represented SIN and TRESPASS, the fire destroyed; but those which represented DEVOTION, SERVICE, FELLOWSHIP, it affected so as to bring out the savor pleasing to God. THE GOD OF HOLINESS IS A GOD OF FIRE, and He is to man what man is in regard to Himself. If man be in rebellion, a sinner persisting in his sin, the FIRE destroys him. If he be yielded, the FIRE brings out the beauty of character. Christ knew the FIRE bringing out SWEET SAVOR in His absolute perfections; He knew it as CONSUMING, as He represented the sinner, and was made sin for us. (2 Cor. 5:21)

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. “