Nadab and Abihu
Leviticus 9-10
Nadab and Abihu, Leviticus 9-10. God's commands were specific; Moses listened to the Words of the Lord and then related them to the people. As God taught Moses the proper ways for the priests to come to Him as they made atonement for the people, so Aaron obeyed those commands specifically. As a result, his offering was pleasing and acceptable to God.
22 Then Aaron lifted up his
hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from
offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace
offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and
when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord
appeared to all the people. 24 And fire came out from before the Lord
and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and
when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9:22-24, ESV
1
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put
fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before
the Lord, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from
before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then
Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said, ‘Among those who
are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be
glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.
Leviticus 10:1-3, ESV
Nadab and Abihu
Leviticus 8-10
Two contrasts are shown in Leviticus 9-10.
God's
commands were specific; Moses listened to the Words of the Lord and
then related them to the people. Everything: the Court, the basins, the
Ark, the Tables, etc., were completed according to the specific commands
of God. As God taught Moses the proper ways for the priests to come to
Him as they made atonement for the people, so Aaron obeyed those
commands specifically. As a result, his offering was pleasing and
acceptable to God.
And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Nadab
and Abihu, the sons of Aaron also brought an offering to the Lord, but
not according to the specific commandments He had given. Leviticus 10 KJV says,
1 And
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and
put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire
before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1-3, KJV)
Fire again came out from before the Lord, but this time it consumed not only the offering but them as well.
I imagine the people were stunned; I'm sure the shouting of joy came to a sudden stop. Look at Moses' explanation to Aaron, “This
is what the Lord has said, ‘Among those who are near me I will be
sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’”
God would not be mocked by these men who chose their own way to bring an offering before Him!
How soon we forget the righteousness and holiness of God. In our day of, "He'll understand and say well done,"
attitude, we forget that this same God has given specific commandments
to us as well, as to how He is to be worshiped. Remember, too, that He
is not happy with the wimpy part of our lives we tend to offer in
service to Him. He also demands obedience to His Holy Word, the Bible. In most countries of the world, including the United States, the commands of the Bible are being totally ignored.
Let us remember that Christ is all, and He demands our all! This reminds me of the words of a song,
Not just a part,
or half of my heart,
I will give all to Thee.
Do we give all to Christ?
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