Continuing through the Bible Genesis 8 and a new world

Imagine spending over a year shut in a boat, especially at age 600-601! For over half a year the Ark was grounded on Mt. Ararat as a wind from heaven dried the new world. Birds were sent and finally found land. The command was given and the door dropped. Noah and family walked out into a changed world. Few plants and only their animals to greet them. The wildness returned to the beasts and they began to scatter. Noah could empathize with Neil Armstrong descending to the moon.

Noah turned and strode back into the Ark. He emerged minutes later with tools and took apart the great gangplank door. He fashioned the gopher wood into a sturdy altar and lay kindling under it while his family watched and shook their heads.

"Shem, Japeth coral some of those clean animals before they wander off!" Reluctantly the men rounded up the 7th of some of the clean animals and birds. With determined rubbing, Noah coaxed a fire to life. The women gathered sticks and wood to build it up. Noah took out a stone knife, killed and cut up the animals.  The altar itself burned the pitch from the wood. When the flames died down,  Noah set the flesh on the charred wood. Mrs. Noah took care to turn the meat and roast it carefully.

Sizzling fat released the aroma of life to the heavens. As the meat finished on the dying altar, Noah raised his hands in prayer and thanks for this new world and this new chance to live with God. The rest of the family bowed in prayer.

The scent of the offering reached God and for the first time in over 120 years He relaxed and enjoyed the heartfelt worship of all of humanity carried to him in the fumes of sacrifice.