In the beginning of the book of Leviticus there is a list of ways to do the different sacrifices. At the end of all of these is a phrase similar to the following:
“But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 1:9 KJV) [1]
What is this sweet savor or sweet aroma? We are not talking about the smell of steaks grilling in a barbecue. These were burnt sacrifices so that they were totally burnt. That would not have a very pleasing smell, would it? So what is the sweet savor mentioned all these times? It is obedience.
We se later in the same book what happened because of obedience and disobedience:
“Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. When he had finished offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering, he stepped down from the altar. Moses and Aaron went into the Meeting Tent. Then they came out and blessed the people, and the Lord’s glory came to all the people. Fire came out from the Lord and burned up the burnt offering and fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and bowed facedown on the ground. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their pans for burning incense, put fire in them, and added incense; but they did not use the special fire Moses had commanded them to use in the presence of the Lord. So fire came down from the Lord and destroyed Nadab and Abihu, and they died in front of the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord was speaking about when he said, ‘I must be respected as holy by those who come near me; before all the people I must be given honor.’ ” So Aaron did not say anything about the death of his sons.” (Leviticus 9:22-10:3 NCV) [2]
After all the sacrifices had been made just as God had commanded, His glory came down and shone on all the people. Then His fire came down and burnt up what was on the altar.
We don’t know why Nadab and Abihu didn’t follow God’s commands that Moses gave them. They didn’t and had to pay the consequences of being struck dead on the spot. God is holy and expects to be honored by His people by their obedience.
Jesus Christ paid the supreme sacrifice on the cross and there will be no more sacrifices needed. All you must do is surrender your life to Jesus Christ. If you belong to Jesus Christ, you are under grace and not the law. We can repent and receive forgiveness for our sins. But God still wants our obedience. We don’t have to worry about whether we are following the letter of the law as found in the Bible but the Holy Spirit empowers us and the love of Jesus Christ compels us to be obedient.
God still wants us to treat Him as holy. He always has been and always will be holy but in this day and time it seems like we have gotten away from that aspect of God. Do you treat Him as holy? Is there anything you do that does not bring honor to Him? Is there anything that you do that brings honor to yourself when it should bring the honor to God? May your life be a sweet savor to God
By Dean W. Masters
homefurn@preferred.com
Unedited redistribution approved
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[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] The Holy Bible : New Century Version , containing the Old and New Testaments. 1991. Dallas, TX: Word Bibles.