A Pleasing Aroma

Read Numbers 28-30
 
Numbers 29:13 Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.
 
HAVE you wondered how burnt animals could be a pleasing aroma to God? Burning flesh is anything but pleasing, but that is how God described it. How is this relevant to us today?
    In this, we can see God calling us to trust him as LORD. “LORD” is a title for God that means he is Jehovah, the Creator and Provider. Another name is Yahweh – the Almighty God. As Israel needed to know then, the church now must know he is LORD of heaven and earth, who provides what we need. 
    To emphasize that truth, God is commanding his people to sacrifice their prime livestock to him. “Sacrifice” means giving up something of value for another’s good. It cost the Hebrews to worship this way. There is no casual, “I’ll do this if I want to do it.” Instead, God has commanded the sacrifice of valuable property as a physical sign people worship him.
    The aroma of the burning flesh, then, was Israel’s active response to God’s worship commands. Israel has given up an animal they could use for food, income and clothing, trusting the LORD to provide all their needs. He is pleased with their faith.
    Knowing Christ is the lamb of God, we remember God has literally given himself to us. we are to savor his pleasing aroma of love, forgiveness and salvation in our hearts. We look upon our heavenly Father with love and awe he has given of himself for our benefit. 
    Now in return, may your life be a pleasing aroma to your Creator.
 
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.