God’s Response to an Offering
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 smite any more every thing living as I have done. Genesis 8:21
Read Genesis 8:20-23
You probably know that the rainbow the Lord gave after the Flood was a sign that He would never destroy the earth again with a flood. Why did the Lord make this promise? Was it because Noah was righteous and a man of faith? On the contrary, history reveals that Noah was and remained a sinner. Was this promise given on account of his posterity? No, for that which we read about Noah’s son Ham and his grandson Canaan was not very becoming. As a matter of fact, the Lord restates what He had spoken before the Flood, “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” In light of these words, we might expect another flood, but the Lord guarantees that it will never happen again. The rainbow reminds us of this promise! Take notice when the Lord actually makes His promise. He does so after Noah had built an altar and had offered burnt offerings as a satisfaction for sin. These sacrifices pleased the Lord; He smelled a sweet savour and accepted them. Then He declared that He would never send another flood.
This account is to remind us of another offering that was brought as a satisfaction for sin; it points us to the offering made by the perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, which brought an end to all sacrificing. Whoever seeks refuge for all his sin and guilt in His sacrifice may know that the Lord still promises He will never leave or forsake you! Never again! And that gives true peace to the heart.
Question: Have you seen the necessity of a sacrifice on your behalf?
Psalter 48:3, 4 (based on Psalm 22) O Lord, Thy goodness makes me raise Amid Thy people songs of praise; Before all them that fear Thee, now I worship Thee and pay my vow, I worship Thee and pay my vow. For all the meek Thou wilt provide, They shall be fed and satisfied; All they that seek the Lord shall live And never ending praises give, And never ending praises give.