God's creation, like His Word, holds multiple layers of meaning that reveal themselves upon closer examination. Among these profound teachings are the sweet savor offerings described in Leviticus, which include the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the peace offering. These offerings, distinct from the trespass and sin offerings, are a sweet aroma to God, indicating that they are not associated with sin but with pleasing devotion. Unlike the repulsive sin offerings burned outside the camp, these sweet savor offerings are burned on the brazen altar, symbolizing God's table where He finds satisfaction, as if savoring delightful food. The burnt offering, also called the whole burnt offering, is unique in that the entire animal is consumed by fire, representing complete, heartfelt devotion to God. It is a voluntary act, offered for acceptance in the stead of the offerer, where a life is given and wholly surrendered as a gift to God. This offering reflects Christ, who lived His entire life as a sacrifice, not merely at His crucifixion, but in every moment of tireless service and perfect conduct. His life was a sweet savor to God, bringing Him joy and satisfaction, as seen in Ephesians 5:2, where Christ gave Himself for us in a manner that delighted God. These sweet savor offerings also instruct us to live in a way that parallels Christ's example. They are not about bearing sin but about living a life so pleasing to God that it is sweet in His presence. Just as Christ volunteered Himself out of love, our devotion must be a voluntary gift, a daily sacrifice of our thoughts, emotions, actions, and strength, fully surrendered to God's will. This total devotion, mirrored in Christ's perfect life, satisfies God's holy requirements and brings us into acceptance before Him through His example.

The concept of a sweet smelling aroma is central to understanding the burnt offering, which is described as a sweet savor offering, pleasing to God. This offering, characterized as a sweet aroma, indicates that it brings satisfaction to Him, in stark contrast to the sin and trespass offerings, which are not pleasing and are burned far from His presence. The burnt offering's fragrance, rising from the brazen altar outside the Temple and Tabernacle, wafts into the place of God's presence, symbolizing His delight in the devotion it represents. God desires to receive this sweet fragrance, showing His approval and satisfaction with the offering. This sweet smelling savor is further illustrated through the life of Jesus Christ, who, in the way He conducted His life, was a sweet smelling savor to God. The burnt offering focuses on life rather than death, emphasizing that God is concerned with how one lives and pleases Him throughout their existence. It reflects a complete and total devotion to God, aligning with the ultimate example set by Christ, who lived His life as a living sacrifice, wholly pleasing to God.

God created the sense of smell in us, as we are made in His image, and He too has the ability to smell. When Israel is distant from God and steeped in sin, it is a stench in His nostrils. However, when they repent and return to Him, fulfilling the covenant, their odor transforms into a sweet smelling aroma before Him. God accepts them as a sweet aroma in that future time of restoration. The altar of incense in the tabernacle, and later the temple, produces a pleasing aroma that wafts up before the mercy seat. This piece of furniture symbolizes a major way Jesus Christ assists in our approach to God the Father. Whether our personal aroma is pleasing or unpleasant, His righteous sweet aroma covers us as we come before God's throne. When we approach, God senses the pleasant aroma of Jesus Christ, which envelops us. The incense burned on the altar, made from a complex recipe of various fragrances including stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, represents the diversity of smells—sweet, bitter, pungent, and savory. This mixture, ground fine and burned daily in significant quantities, symbolizes our prayers before God. Morning and evening, the priest burned large portions of incense, indicating that God desires abundant communication from us, urging us to pour out our hearts fully to Him. The incense, drifting through the veil to the Holy of Holies, illustrates how close God is to us when we pray, separated only by a short symbolic distance. The addition of salt to the incense reminds us of the perpetual covenant with God, symbolizing endurance, purity, and holiness in our relationship with Him. As we offer our prayers, like the finely ground incense, we must present every aspect—sweet, bitter, savory, and sour—considering all perspectives to gain wisdom and align with God's view. Through this process, facilitated by Jesus Christ as our High Priest, we can approach God boldly, assured that His intercession and perfect sacrifice open the way for our prayers to be heard and answered according to His will.