SCRIPTURE: LEVITICUS 10
BIBLE VERSE:
“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord’ (Leviticus 10:1-2)
THE DEATH OF NADAB AND ABIHU (vs. 1-2)
Because Aaron’s son Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, the fire consumed them. Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel and told them to carry their cousins outside the camp away from the front of the sanctuary.
Theses are the instructions given to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar by the Lord:
- Do not let your hair become unkempt.
- Do not tear your clothes.
- Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- Do not drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting.
- Know to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.
- Teach the israelites all the decrees the Lord has given through Moses.
Moses told Aaron and his remaining sons Eleazar and Ithamar to take the grain offering left over from the offering made to the Lord by fire and eat it prepared without yeast beside the altar, which is the most holy place.
The breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented must be given to Aaron and his children as their share of the Israelites’ fellowship Offering.
THOUGHTS;
Nadab and Abihu made authorized offerings which was contrary to his command. As a result, God caused a fire to consume them. “Judgment begins at the house of the Lord”. This is a warning to all who lead God’s people in the service of worship. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. The Spirit will never lead believers to do anything contrary to the Word of God.
Drinking strong drink would lead to drunkenness. The priests are admonished against strong drink before going to the Tabernacle. They were to keep themselves holy. Those who serve the Lord must be an example to others and be filled with the Spirit of God and not with wine.