THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
In the divine wisdom of God, He initially permitted flawed and improper understandings of Himself to arise, such as the notion that He is physical or visible. In response, He declares, "God is spirit" (John 4:24). Additionally, the idea that God delights in sacrifices is not inherent to His nature. He has spoken in ways that, to some, may seem contradictory to the true essence of His being. This is because He never prioritizes His own dignity but consistently looks to our benefit. Just as an earthly father might disregard his own status when playfully engaging with his children, using made-up or childish names for food and drink, so too does God accommodate human understanding. He chastises the Israelites through the prophet, saying, "hath any people changed their gods?" (Jer.
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2:11); this theme of divine accommodation is evident throughout Scripture, both in His speech and actions.
After the flood, Noah presented sheep, cattle, and birds as offerings to God. The Scripture reveals, "And the Lord smelled a pleasant savour" (Gen. 8:21), indicating that He accepted the offerings. Although God does not have nostrils and is incorporeal, the smoke and aroma from the altar rise into the air. While the smell of burnt offerings might be offensive, the phrase "smell of fragrance" is used to signify that God's acceptance of sacrifices is contingent upon the inner disposition of the offerer. Therefore, the same Scriptures refer to certain offerings as an "abomination" (Isaiah 1:13), reflecting the state of the soul of those who present them.