The more I read the Bible, the more I am just amazed at how detailed and specific God has been in his creation of the world and of us. Nothing has been left to chance. Let’s start at the beginning.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, …” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27
Now I know that these verses mean that we are made to reflect God’s character—his love, his holiness, his creativity. That we have been given the power to reason, make moral choices, and build relationships.
But as I read deeper, I am moved in how God closely aligns our characteristics to his. Take, for instance, our sense of smell.
Of all the senses, this one is probably not high on our priority of senses. Most of us would not want to lose our sight (and be estranged from our world), or hearing (and be alienated from communicating those around us), or touch (and be put in extreme danger). Yes, we want to taste our food, and while we enjoy the fragrances of flowers we could live without the scent of skunks. So smell might be the one sense we would be willing to forego.
And yet . . .
Smell is the sense that is most closely linked to memory and emotion. To forgo a long scientific explanation, the skinny of it is the sense of smell bypasses the brain’s sensory station (the thalamus) and goes straight to the seats of emotion and memory (amygdala and hippocampus).
One whiff of a fragrance/scent/odor can remind us of a wonderful childhood experience, our grandparents’ house, or of a food we detest.
Is it any wonder then, that while God sees: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” Psalm 33:18.
Hears: "But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer” Psalm 66:19
And feels: "The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love…" Exodus 34:6.
It is the sense of smell that he reserves for what is most meaningful to Him—the hearts and prayers of those who love Him.
“The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”Genesis 8:21.
“It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD” Leviticus 1:9.
"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing”
2 Corinthians 2:15
“The four living creatures and elders held golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”
Revelation 5:8
May we never forget the gift of our senses and that they reveal—yet again—that we were made in the image of God.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, …” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27
Now I know that these verses mean that we are made to reflect God’s character—his love, his holiness, his creativity. That we have been given the power to reason, make moral choices, and build relationships.
But as I read deeper, I am moved in how God closely aligns our characteristics to his. Take, for instance, our sense of smell.
Of all the senses, this one is probably not high on our priority of senses. Most of us would not want to lose our sight (and be estranged from our world), or hearing (and be alienated from communicating those around us), or touch (and be put in extreme danger). Yes, we want to taste our food, and while we enjoy the fragrances of flowers we could live without the scent of skunks. So smell might be the one sense we would be willing to forego.
And yet . . .
Smell is the sense that is most closely linked to memory and emotion. To forgo a long scientific explanation, the skinny of it is the sense of smell bypasses the brain’s sensory station (the thalamus) and goes straight to the seats of emotion and memory (amygdala and hippocampus).
One whiff of a fragrance/scent/odor can remind us of a wonderful childhood experience, our grandparents’ house, or of a food we detest.
Is it any wonder then, that while God sees: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” Psalm 33:18.
Hears: "But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer” Psalm 66:19
And feels: "The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love…" Exodus 34:6.
It is the sense of smell that he reserves for what is most meaningful to Him—the hearts and prayers of those who love Him.
“The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”Genesis 8:21.
“It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD” Leviticus 1:9.
"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing”
2 Corinthians 2:15
“The four living creatures and elders held golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”
Revelation 5:8
May we never forget the gift of our senses and that they reveal—yet again—that we were made in the image of God.
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