Daily Devotions
Holy Worship for a Holy God
Reading for February 3rd: Leviticus 8-10
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. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 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
This is a tough reading. These two men came to WORSHIP and they DIED! That's not easy to read but we need to think carefully about what this means to us.
It helps to understand the context. Back in Exodus God revealed himself in an awesome and terrifying pyrotechnic display on Mount Sinai. The people trembled at the foot of the mountain, completely awestruck and overwhelmed by their God. Nadab and Abihu were not only there, they were given a front row seat getting to ascend the mountain and view God (see Exodus 24:9-11).
Then in Leviticus 8-9 Nadab and Abihu are consecrated as priests. They offer burnt and sin offerings (ch 8). Then they wait at the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days (8:35). They can't go into the tent of meeting (because they aren't fully cleansed), and they can't go back to the people (because then they would have to repeat the whole process again). So what do they do for those seven days? Sit and think. What do they think about? The holiness of God.
Then on the eighth day we reach the glorious conclusion (ch 9). After more offerings, fire comes down from the LORD to consume their offering. God approved of their worship. And I love the reaction of the people: "when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces." (v 24)
This context is important. Nadab and Abihu knew better. They knew how holy God was, but they offered unauthorized fire anyway. They were without excuse. Their disobedience, seen in this context, is much more serious than it might appear on the surface. They were willful and rebellious. As God's priests they had to be made an example. They were to defend and promote the holiness of God before the people and they profaned him.
So what about you and me? Are we seeking to do everything as God has commanded in our life or are we disregarding his commandments? We are God's priests and it is our job to glorify and sanctify him. We do that through careful obedience.
Father, forgive us for dishonoring your holy name through our disobedience.
