Episode 112 - The Divine Breath: Exploring the Theology of Nose and Nostrils
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Episode Description
Have you ever considered that your nose might be the most theologically significant part of your body? Tucked away in Genesis 2:7 is a profound revelation—the first human body part specifically mentioned in scripture is the nose, as God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." This isn't coincidental but foundational to understanding our relationship with our Creator.
The humble nose serves as more than just a facial feature we often feel insecure about. It functions as the gateway through which life itself entered humanity and continues to sustain us moment by moment. Each breath we take demonstrates our complete dependence on something outside ourselves—a powerful physical reminder of our spiritual dependence on God's sustaining presence.
This episode explores fascinating connections between breathing, smelling, and spiritual realities. We discover that the Hebrew word for anger literally means "nose," giving us a visceral understanding of divine wrath as flared nostrils and heavy breathing rather than mere abstract disapproval. This makes the sacrificial system's "soothing aroma" profoundly meaningful—the smoke of atonement enters God's nostrils and calms His righteous anger. When Jesus "breathed on them" to give the disciples the Holy Spirit, He was deliberately echoing the Genesis creation narrative, showing that the same God who formed us continues to transform us.
Our sense of smell's powerful connection to memory and emotion explains why fragrance plays such an important role in scripture, from Mary's expensive perfume poured on Jesus' feet to Paul's description of believers as "the aroma of Christ." Your life, lived in sacrifice and obedience, generates a spiritual fragrance that reflects Christ's own sacrifice—pleasing to God though perhaps offensive to a world that rejects salvation.
Join us as we breathe deeply of these theological insights and discover how something as simple as our nose reveals profound truths about receiving and reflecting divine life. What spiritual aroma is your life producing today?
The theme music is "Wager with Angels" by Nathan Moore