To me, the smell of smoke from a barbeque is just a friendly reminder that whenever we are in need, help is only a prayer away. It is such a satisfying aroma that everyone immediately look around to locate the source of the smoke, because it is the tell tale sign of where such a pleasant scent is originating. After locating the smoke, the aroma from the barbeque is such a sweet smell and mouth-watering experience that it initiates a brief moment of well-being. Using a phrase from the Bible, that aroma from the smoke of a barbeque is an odor of a sweet smell.
One might ask, what does a barbeque have to do with the praying? Well, in the Old Testament, when the Children of Israel offered a burnt offering, they killed an animal and burned it on the altar. The smell of the fat burning ascended up to God, creating an odor of a sweet smell; Exo.29:18, “….. it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire…..” This same principle applies with a barbeque. An animal’s life has been sacrificed and his body is placed on a grill. As the flesh is positioned over the flame, the fat begins to burn off and the by-product is smoke with an odor of a sweet smell. This aroma fills the air and captures everyone’s attention because it is so pleasing.
Why is the burning of fat so pleasing to God? Well, everything in the Old Testament points to something in the New Testament. The smoke from the burning animal fat is equivalent to the saint’s prayers rising up to God; Rev.5:8, “…..having every one of them….. golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” The smoke rising from the burnt offerings is well-pleasing to God just as the saint’s prayers rising to God, are also well-pleasing to Him. Prayer is mankind’s way of communicating with God and those prayers always rises to heaven, Rev.8:4, “…..prayers of the saints, ascended up before God…..”
Just as the smoke from a barbeque rises throughout the neighborhood, the saint’s prayers ascend up to God also. Whenever you are in need of anything that’s not in opposition to God, all you have to do is to pray to God. Your prayers are well-pleasing to Him; 1 Pet. 3:12, “…..the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers…..” Your prayers to God, is an odor of a sweet smell, so all you have to do is ask Him for what you need; Php.4:6, “….. in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
The next time you smell a barbeque, it should be a reminder that you always have an open door to God. With that being said, I am encouraging you to keep on grilling as a reminder to keep the prayers ascending up to God.
