FROM FRAGRANCE TO FIRE!

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*FROM FRAGRANCE TO FIRE!*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Genesis 8:20-21 *And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.*

*And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

God still smells sacrifices that are pleasing to Him as a sweet smelling odour. He still sends fire to consume such sacrifices.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

When our offering is *"....an odour of a sweet smell, it is a sacrifice acceptable and wellpleasing to God, Phillipn 4:18.

A fragrance is another word for a pleasant 'sweet smell'.

An odour of "sweet smelling savor" is used to describe an acceptable prayer or offering that God finds pleasing and acceptable.

An offering consumed by fire means an offering that 'has gone up' to God, Lev 9:24, Judg 6:21.

Paul describes the Christians as a sweet fragrance to God, 2 Cor 2:15.

Abel's offering was the first mention of offering and the first God ever accepted, Gen 4:4.

God's mode of acceptance was not made known, but God had respect for it.

Noah was recorded as offering a burnt offering. He *".....offered burnt offerings on the altar."*, Gen 8:20-21, another name for sacrifice.

The Lord was pleased and smelled the odor of the sacrifice and promised not to destroy all living beings again. 

It was the first time recorded that God smelled an offering of sacrifice as a sweet smelling odor.

It is implied that Noah set fire on *"......every clean beast, and of every clean fowl,....."*, Gen 8:20.

This marked the beginning and demonstration of God's power of smell and

an illustration of His acceptance of offerings and sacrifices

Abel gave an offering. It was accepted.

Noah gave an offering that was more than an offering. It was a burnt offering, and its smoke became an aroma, a fragrance.

In the story of Samson, his parents offered

*".....a kid with a meat offering,..."* upon a rock and *"......when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar"*, Judg 13:20.

Though Abel's and Noah's offering were accepted whether or not Bible says the offering was smelled by God or fire of God consumed it, or He simply accepted will not make one less acceptable than the other but there was more about God's mode of acceptance by smelling a fragrance.

First, Noah and Samson's parents put in fire to make their offering a burnt offering, and on each occasion, God responded swiftly.

A burnt sacrifice is like an offering that goes beyond the ordinary.

The fire on an offering makes it a burnt offering. The burnt offering becomes a sacrifice. Sacrifice is the wisdom behind a smelled offering. The fire sets it up for the smoke that ascends to Heaven.

The smoke changes to a fragrance to God.

A burnt offering is rewarded by fire from God

The fire that did not come with the one thousand burnt offering of Solomon in 1 Kgs 3:3-5 came after his prayers, offering and sacrifices at the opening of the temple he built for God, 2 Chro 7.

Second, a sacrifice made by fire is reciprocated with fire from God.

God responded to Elijah's prayers on Mount Carmel by fire, 1 Kgs 18:38-39.

God still smells the fragrance of our offerings and sacrifices today.

Our offerings as a "sweet smelling savour, though likened to the Old Testament, describe an acceptable prayer or offering that God finds pleasing. 

An offering that smells to God as a 'sweet smelling savour' has been accepted, expressed by the fire of God that consumed it.

Paul says in Philippians 4:18 *But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.*

Paul says *".....we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish* 2 Cor 2:15.

That God still smells the fragrance of our offerings is also reflected when Mary offered her perfume to anoint Jesus' feet, John 12:1-8.

While 'to smell' means God recognizes your sacrifice, His fire that consumes tells us of God's validation, acceptance, and approval of the sacrifice.

Remember, however, that as fragrance is to fire, so is fire to fragrance.

Any offering smelled by God is as good as an offering consumed by His fire.

*Remorse corner.*

God who is able to smell an odor of sweet smelling savor in the days of Noah is the same God that sends fire to consume our offerings

*Call to Word action.*

2 Chr 7:1  *Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

As God is a God of fragrance, He is also a consuming fire. Both are indicators of His presence

*Prayer.*

Lord, please let Your fire consume my offerings and let them be a sweet smelling savor unto You, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.