God is Not to be Trifled and Philandered With

Today I would like to discuss Leviticus 10:1 - ”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.”

What a privilege and an honor for Nadab and Abihu to be invited to participate in such a holy and sacred ceremony. Yet, it became a solemn day for these two eldest sons of Aaron, the High Priest. They had been drinking and were inebriated before going before the Lord. 

Moses specially chose them to go up unto the Lord along with Aaron, and the 70 elders. What a special invitation this was.

However, they offered up a strange fire which was common fire, a fire that had not been taken from the altar of the burnt offering as it ought to have been.  A fire that God did not authorize.  It had not been prepared in the manner ordered by the Law.  They chose to defile and disrespect it, which was dangerous.  They didn’t follow God’s instruction. This act of disrespect, dishonor, and disobedience caused instant death! 

I thank God for His only begotten Son, Yahshua (Jesus), our sacrificial Passover Lamb who died on that old rugged tree for you and me!  If it weren’t for the blood of the precious Lamb of God, many of us would be consumed!  Blessed is He who was, who is and who is to come!!!   We have a great High Priest who shed His blood, giving us access to the Holy of Holies, to God’s Throne room.

What did they do wrong?

1. Only one person was supposed to offer up incense.

2. The unauthorized sacrifice was contrary to God’s command.

The cost:

Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them.

God is to be honored, and we need to approach Him as such. In Leviticus 10:3, God says – “Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.”.

Sadly, we see this same plight for the sons of the Priest Eli, whose wayward sons - Hophni and Pinehas took advantage of their priestly positions by bribery and corruption. Both had a tragic end, along with their father. Interestingly, this Priest was a descendant from the lineage of Ithamar, the fourth and youngest son of Aaron the High Priest. 

We thank the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob for His son, Jesus, Savior of the world. However, we should never assume that we can use His blood to play or toy with the Holy One of Israel.