what does God smell like?

i was listening to this sermon awhile back
where the pastor was talking about
when Israel was wandering the desert.
he talked about
how they made sacrifices to God everyday.
they would take animals
and roast them on the altar
and God would smell the aroma and be pleased.
the bible mentions God being pleased
by the smell of roasting sacrifices like 35 times.
He concluded:
God loves the smell of barbecue!


the preacher talked about
how the smell of the roasting meat
became synonymous with the presence of God-
or maybe better put:
the Israelites knew that God was present
when the could smell the aroma of the roasting meat.
the preacher concluded:
God smells like a barbecue!
and He smells AWESOME.


well, anyhow-
i pulled up to saratoga federated this morning
because i was officiating the wedding of 2 of my friends:
ben and diane.
as i pulled up, it looked like the place was on fire-
but it wasn’t-
carlos from malibu grill
(the best barbecue in san jose!)
was getting ready to cater the wedding
with his signature ribs, chicken and tri-tip.
i saw the smoke-
and i smelled the aroma,
and i was reminded:
God is here!


when i walked out
i told carlos about how God
smells like barbecue
and he said,
“well i must smell like God all the time!”
and i said
“oh yes-
His smell is ALL over YOU carlos!”
barbecue like his
is best described as divine.


here are some verses to think about:


“present an offering made by fire
as an aroma pleasing to the LORD,
a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls,
two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old,
all without defect.”
-numbers 29:13


“may my prayer be set before you
like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands
be like the evening sacrifice.”
-psalm 141:2


"for we are to God
the aroma of Christ
among those who are being saved
and those who are perishing."
-2 cor. 2:15