soothing aroma - Bible Facts

With these definitions we might be tempted to fall into the trap of common pagan thinking: Being whose blood lust must be placated with the blood of animal sacrifices that are subsequently burned up before Him. If we did so we would be wrong. Everything in the physical temple/tabernacle was given as a picture of the spiritual tabernacle. G-d instructs Moshe to make the tabernacle "as was shown [him] on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5 quoting Exodus 26:30). So what is the picture that is painted in Scripture for us by the phrase "soothing aroma"? Let's see where the phrase is first used in Scripture.

Genesis 8:20-21 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

So why does Scripture say this is a soothing aroma why not just say it is "soothing"? Olfaction (the sense of smell) is the sense that is most closely related to memory. Taste, sight, touch, and sound may stir memories and cause us to hunt for a specific recollection. The smell of something, however, often brings an immediate and powerful recollection. So what is it that the obedience of an olah that is wholly given over to G-d brings to His mind? His son, Yeshua, who was wholly given over to the will of G-d and who served as our sacrifice to bring peace between G-d and man. In savoring the obedience of an olah G-d is reminded of His own Son and it is of soothing to Him.