Sacrifice
Genesis 8:21The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
Both situations from chapter 6 are revisited. God confirms that every inclination of the human heart is evil. Evil from childhood. God doesn't think we are basically good. We like to think we are, or maybe some of us are. But not according to God, and he should know.
However, the pain and grief in God's heart were eased when (20) "Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it."
He built an altar for God, specifically, and he picked out the best of each animal--no skimping, he chose from all the approved, the kosher, the edible--and he gave them all to God. He burned them, and the smell of the smoke pleased God.
Last night Pastor Allen mentioned Enoch, from early Genesis, and his inclusion in
Hebrews 11:5: For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Pleasing God, this was the idea. Noah did it by sacrifice of animals. Jesus was the final, the perfect sacrifice. I can please God if I accept His sacrifice, if I come to Him only in consciousness of that sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:15 mentions the sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name, offered through Jesus.
Both situations from chapter 6 are revisited. God confirms that every inclination of the human heart is evil. Evil from childhood. God doesn't think we are basically good. We like to think we are, or maybe some of us are. But not according to God, and he should know.
However, the pain and grief in God's heart were eased when (20) "Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it."
He built an altar for God, specifically, and he picked out the best of each animal--no skimping, he chose from all the approved, the kosher, the edible--and he gave them all to God. He burned them, and the smell of the smoke pleased God.
Last night Pastor Allen mentioned Enoch, from early Genesis, and his inclusion in
Hebrews 11:5: For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Pleasing God, this was the idea. Noah did it by sacrifice of animals. Jesus was the final, the perfect sacrifice. I can please God if I accept His sacrifice, if I come to Him only in consciousness of that sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:15 mentions the sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name, offered through Jesus.
posted by ruthees @ 11:36 AM
<< Home