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. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (Numbers 3:1-4)
Some thoughts for today: 26 April 2020
In this portion we read about God’s sudden judgement. The sons of Aaron offered a strange fire in God’s temple. Yes, they were priests, but priests in their own way; they followed the easy road and offered a quick ‘solution’ to their own detriment. The false fires they offered were unauthorized fires. They were busy with an act of worship, but in their own manner. They were busy with a fire of their own making, and not from God’s altar, which was a fire lit from above.
Delving deeper into this happening, we find that their lives were not in right standing with God. Before the people they did the right ritual, but before the Holy One they were busy with their own agenda and cover-ups. They mixed things. In the end they were not worshiping God, but themselves and their own ideas.
How careful must we not be to serve God with an upright spirit; where we have cleansed ourselves so that we can bring our offerings in the right manner.
