Spreading the Aroma

In Exodus Chapter 30, we read about the instructions given for making a special anointing oil. The sweet fragrance of this oil would be a powerful reminder to the Israelites of the holiness of God. The anointing oil was to be poured on the head of Aaron to consecrate and ordain him as a priest. He was only eligible to do this job as a priest after special atonement had been made for his sins. The blood of animals was required to cleanse him for going into God’s holy presence.

The tent of meeting was also to be anointed and consecrated so it was fit for God to use it. It was to become a sacred place where God could come and speak to His people. ‘There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory’ (Exodus 29:43).

It had been God’s purpose, all along, to bring the people out of Egypt so they could know Him. ‘I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God’ (Exodus 29:45-46).

The anointing oil was not ordinary oil but a specially prepared fragrant oil. It was prepared from a mixture of the finest spices, myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane and cassia with olive oil. It was made according to the instructions given by the Lord Himself.

The setting apart to be holy for the Lord’s purposes wasn’t a job anyone could put themselves forward for. It was only for the chosen. Aaron’s sons would inherit the job of being priests after Aaron died, and each one of them had to be anointed with the special oil and consecrated to the Lord’s service.

Paul the apostle didn’t choose his calling to be an evangelist to the Gentiles. He was selected by the Lord for this special task. He was completely unworthy of being chosen, as he was persecuting the followers of Jesus, and wanted them all to be killed or put in prison. He had to be cleansed from his sins by the blood of Jesus. But once he received a revelation of the truth about the Lord Jesus being God’s Messiah, the Saviour of the world, who was risen from the dead, he gave his all to serve Jesus for the rest of his life, whatever the cost.

Paul was able to say ‘Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life’ (2 Corinthians 2:3:5).

He was able to spread the pleasing aroma of the knowledge of Jesus, which brings life, only through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. How about you? Are you spreading a sweet smelling aroma of the knowledge of the Lord to those around you? Are you changing the spiritual atmosphere where you are? Are you bringing life?