I don’t know about you, but the idea of dozens of dead animal carcasses laying around the Tabernacle area sounds pretty revolting. I love a good BBQ, but those animals that we’re smoking have been dead for a long time and usually prepared offsite. I’m not slaughtering a goat in my backyard and transferring it’s lifeless body to my smoker a few feet away.
But a “sweet savor” is exactly how God describes burnt offerings in Leviticus 1. The animal changes a couple times through the chapter—sheep, goats, and birds—but the end result is the same: What God smells is pleasing to Him.
Why is that? The answer can’t be due to the smell itself, but rather what the smell represents. For God, these sacrifices aren’t just animals, they’re representations of the individual’s heart and sincere desire to be right with God.
I saw this in my own life just recently. We usually let the kids get up around seven on Saturdays and watch some pre-approved shows (Dude Perfect is a household favorite). One morning, they got a little too rowdy, so I got on to them for waking both of us up, only to see them truck in a few minutes later with “breakfast.”
I’ll spare you the details of what the breakfast actually consisted of, but know that it didn’t really smell all that great. To my fatherly nose though, it was the best “meal” I had “eaten” in quite a while (notice the quotation marks). Why? Because it was made out of love.
Far be it from me to compare the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament to an overflowing bowl of “cereal,” but the concept is the same. God sees what we offer—an offering that is according to His requirement—and is pleased with our turn back to Him. What more could a Father want?
Paul uses this same idea in 2 Corinthians 2:15 to describe his own personal sacrifices as an Apostle. He tells the church that his offering of himself and spiritual service is a “fragrant aroma” to those whom he serves, because their sacrifice meant a more full understanding of God’s saving truth. I’m sure they didn’t appreciate Paul’s persecution, but those actions proved Paul’s devotion to them.
Imagine if we offered sacrifices to God based on what we wanted. Instead of humility and repentance, imagine if we masked our sins by trying to build bigger cathedrals and giving more money on Sundays. Would that please Him? I would argue it would only please us.
What does God require? Fortunately, Micah 6:8 answers this question: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” That may not look pretty—certainly to us—but it’s nevertheless a sweet savor to God.
