Have you ever been standing downwind from a fire? Did the wind blow the smoke toward you? Did you get smoke in your nose? Did the smoke make you cough? Did the smoke take your breath away? Did the smoke burn your nose?
It is very uncomfortable to get smoke in your nose. If the smoke is from certain types of fires, it can smell very bad, and that bad smell will stay in your nose for a long time. We read, in Isaiah 65:5, “Which say, Stand thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.”
In the previous verses, we find out that the wicked Israelites are being referenced. The Israelites had become very wicked. Yet, they still wanted to be called the people of God. They still believed that they were God’s chosen and nothing could separate them from God. They did not even want the prophets to talk to them.
God considered these people as smoke in his nose. He did not like anything that they did as worship toward Him. He did not like anything about them. They were a bad smell in His nose. They were uncomfortable to His nose. Instead of their sacrifices coming up as a sweet smelling savor, they were a stinking, burning smoke.
Make sure that you are not like bad smoke in God’s nose. Make sure you are in the right relationship with God. Study your Bible. Obey what it says, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
