In the 1920’s, scientist estimated that a human could distinguish between 10,000 smells. In the last decade, scientist have calculated that number to be a trillion!
Our amazing God gifted humans with an immense olfaction that brings pleasure and protection. Interestingly, God receives pleasure from a smell.
This smell uniquely surpasses all the other smells and is identified in the Bible as a pleasing aroma to the LORD!
A pleasing aroma to the LORD comes from offerings (which emphasizes gratitude, devotion, or community) and sacrifices (which emphasizes atonement and reconciliation with God).
In the Old Testament, aromas pleasing to the LORD are “not merely about the physical scent of the offerings but rather the heart and intent behind them.
It reflects the idea that God desires sincere worship and obedience from His people.”[1] In Leviticus, several types of offerings are described as being a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
In Isaiah, the “concept is expanded to emphasize the importance of righteousness and justice over ritualistic offerings.”[2]
In the New Testament, aromas pleasing to the LORD are often associated with sacrifices. Certainly, Christ as a sacrifice was a pleasing aroma to God as He “gave Himself up for us” (Eph 5:2). Also, believers in Christ are a pleasing aroma as they present themselves as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1).
Being a living sacrifice can look a lot of different ways including giving thanks in everything (1 Thess 5:18)), doing everything without grumbling (Phil 2:14-16), thinking of others more highly than ourselves (Phil 2:3), and counting it all joy as we face various trials (James 1:2).
A sacrifice is when we give up something; usually it is our comfort, selfish desires, or selfish motives. A sacrifice to the LORD is from a sincere and humble heart which results in a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Paul refers to Christians as spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ and being a sweet aroma of Christ in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15.
Furthermore, Caleb and Joshua in Numbers 13-14, demonstrate a way to be a pleasing aroma to the LORD as they look to what God can do in taking the promise land instead of what man can do.
Also, Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah faithfully speak God’s Word that encourages and convicts those around them which must have been a pleasing aroma to the LORD as they obediently followed His instructions.
We, too, can be a pleasing aroma to the LORD as we look to what the LORD God can do instead of man in challenging situations and faithfully speak the LORD’s Word to others.
Moreover, Haggai challenges the Israelites to “consider” their ways (Hag 1:5) as Haggai sought to turn people back to God. As we seek to be a living sacrifice and be pleasing aroma to God, we, too, should “consider” our ways.
In what area are you disobeying God? Recently, my soul noticed that the Israelites refused to take the plunder of the Persians in the book of Esther (Est 9:10, 15, 16) which contrasts to Saul who disobeyed and took plunder (1 Sam 15:19-23).
I realized the Israelites refused to repeat a sin of their forefathers. This got me thinking about sins of my forefathers that I need to repent of. Our culture refers to this as Break the Cycle (BTC). My contemplations led me to the fact that my mother would sometimes not be respectful to my father and to my shame I realize there are times I am not respectful to my husband.
I repented (change of mind and heart) and confessed this sin to God and to my husband. I am experiencing God’s forgiveness and deliverance. I am trusting the Holy Spirit for the power to think and live differently.
There is a peace and joy in knowing that I am a pleasing aroma to the LORD! “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psa 51:17).
What sin of your forefathers or repeated sin is God convicting you of that you need to repent of? God desires to restore and bless repentant sinners. Amazingly, we can be a pleasing aroma to God as we offer sincere worship and obedience!
