The Feast of Shavuot literally means the Feast of Weeks. The Hebrew word sheva means seven, shavua means week, and shavu'ot is the plural which means weeks. The Feast of Weeks is arrived at by counting seven weeks from the day after the High day Sabbath during Pesach (Lev. 23:15-16). Another name for Shavuot is Pentecost, it is derived from the Greek word Pentekoste meaning fiftieth. Shavuot is the last of the Spring feasts which ultimately leads to the Fall feasts.

Shavuot, however is the culmination of the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. The exodus, although a national redemption for the nation, it is also personal since everyone that comes to faith in the Messiah of Israel must regard themselves as to have personally left Egypt (From the Hebrew Mitzrayim meaning narrow straits or tight spot). On Sivan 6, Elohim descended amidst thunder, lightning, smoke, fire and shofar blasts. When He begun to utter the words of the Torah as recorded in Exodus 20, the people stood back in fear of Adonai. Moses drew near and later went up the mountain to receive the rest of the Torah.

As messianic believers, we believe that Shavuot is fulfilled with the advent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Jerusalem in fulfillment of the New Covenant prophesied by the Prophet Jeremiah that the Torah would be written upon our hearts (Jer. 31-34). The New Testament reveals Shavuot as the climax of our redemption given through Yahshua. The redemption from Egypt by the blood of the lamb on Passover led to the giving of the Torah at Sinai, so too did the redemption by the blood of the Lamb of God, Messiah lead to the advent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-43).

In the first Shavuot, it says that Adonai descended on Sinai in fire. During the Shavuot after the resurrection and ascension of Yahshua, it says that the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles as 'tongues of fire'. If Adonai descended in fire at Sinai, it is possible to conclude that He also descended in the fire the Holy Spirit on the disciples in the Upper Room. There seems to be a connection between fire and the Holy Spirit.

Exodus 19:18-All of Mount Sinai smoked, because the Lord descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

Acts 2:3-Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

The Hebrew word for fire is esh. Biblically, fire is associated with cleansing and divine judgment. But it is also associated with zeal and godly passion. The scriptures warn us that, "Our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29). The Psalmist said, "Smoke came out of his nostrils. Consuming fire out of his mouth." (Psalms 18:8) Fire also denotes the presence of God. He led the children of Israel with a pillar of fire by night which provided guidance as to when they would set forth or camp (Numbers 9:15-23). He also commanded that fire was to be kept burning continually in the Temple and should not go out. (Lev. 6:13)

The Prophet Malachi when prophesying about the Messiah, he called him the messenger of the covenant, alluding to the New Covenant. He went on to describe him as a refiner's fire who would purify the sons of Levi just like silver and gold (Malachi 3:1-3). This means just like a refiner's fire purifies precious metal from the refuse, the Messiah would use the fire of the Spirit to purify and sanctify us (Titus 1:4). The Holy Spirit in us produces the purity of God.

When John the Baptist was baptising in the Jordan, he said "I indeed baptise you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not able to bear. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit, and fire”. (Matthew 3:11) The baptism of Messiah was of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives passion for Elohim. When the two disciples travelling to Emmaus encountered a resurrected Yahshua and he explained to them the scriptures, they said, “Our hearts were burning within us.“ (Luke 24:32) Upon receiving the fire of the Holy Spirit, the apostles overcame their limitations as a result of this passion (Acts 4:31). They became spiritual giants that preached the word boldly, raised the dead, healed the sick and blind and gave testimony in the presence of Kings. They died as martyrs of the gospel.

Since the fire in the Temple was to be kept burning continually and was not to go out (Lev. 6:13) and our bodies are the temples of the Spirit of God, we should tend the fire in our hearts (altars) lest it goes out. We are to daily and continually feed our fire and remove ashes from it. We need to take caution not to sin against our Heavenly Father by bringing 'strange fire' like the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu who were judged guilty for bringing fake zeal and passion.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 - Don’t quench the Spirit.

By Felix Wainaina