... Exodus 29:18 speaks of the burning of a whole ram on the altar as a burnt offering to God, and it is said to be "a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord." Paul in Philippians 4:18 speaks of the gifts the Philippians sent to him by means of Epaphroditus as "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." Paul is drawing an analogy between himself and God receiving gifts, except that ultimately the sacrifice they made on behalf of Paul is really a sacrifice offered and pleasing to God. Exodus 32:32 has Moses saying to God after the golden calf debacle "please forgive their sin, but if not blot me out of the book you have written." This should ring a bell with students of the New Testament familiar with Paul’s passionate words in Romans 9:3: "for I could wish myself cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel." Paul is willing to make the same sort of sacrifice as Moses to save his people ...