Leviticus 10:1-3 - 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.
This morning, I was doing my daily yearlong reading of my ESV Study Bible when I came across the story of Nadab and Abihu.
The first nine chapters of Leviticus have been exhaustive with God's instructions on how the Israelites are to conduct themselves in his presence.
Paragraph, after paragraph, describing in great detail how Aaron, and his sons (the priests) are to orchestrate the various sacrifices.
Evidently Nadab, and Abihu offered an offensive fire before the Lord, as we can see that they were nuked.
The notes in my ESV Study Bible suggest that perhaps there were drinking (God later reminds Aaron not to be drinking on the job), and it further suggests that the two boys had entered the Holy of Holies (certain death).
As I contemplate this story, as first I was shocked and taken back. My post-modern tendencies recoiled at the thought of such a God. How can this be? Isn't God a God of love?
Behold, my post-modern mind, you only have it half right. God is love and just. God is holy. God is not Santa Claus. God is to be loved, and feared.
If we were to live with God, among his Tent of Meeting, we would understand this. If we were to have witnessed all of God's visuals, we would understand. We would have had the opportunity to tremble, in fear, before the Lord.
We haven't! In fact, we make up stories, we dream of another god, because we have never read this book. God desires that we know him from reading this book.
This story is disturbing. However, I scramble from quick judgment and seek to understand.
Lesson: God is holy. Contemporary man has an improper view of God, to his own potential demise, by God's holy fire.
In our sinful pride, we would stand before God and condemn him for these actions. We must remember, God is our creator. God is holy. We are the clay. God is Judge, and Father.
We must strive to understand these two seemingly contradictory titles, to our post-modern minds.
We must consider Aaron's response: "And Aaron held his peace". God just nuked two of his sons! Clearly, Aaron understood something that we don't.
How does this story strike your mind? Did you recoil when you read it? Does this story teach you anything new of God? Do you fear God?
Share your thoughts in the comments section.
