Leviticus
chapter 10 contains a section of scripture that has been debated for
millennium. “Aaron’s
sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added
incense; and they offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had
not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord
and consumed them and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to
Aaron, This is what the Lord spoke when He said: AMONG THOSE WHO
APPROACH ME, I WILL SHOW MYSELF HOLY; IN THE SITE OF ALL THE PEOPLE,
I WILL BE HONORED“.
Clearly these newly anointed priests did not honor God and He judged
them immediately. The focus is on the “strange fire”.
Fire is always symbolic of God’s Judgment or God’s acceptance or
God’s presence. When we confuse the Man’s judgment, and acceptance
and presence with God’s, the consequences are deadly. Only God can
look at the heart of a man and judge him unrighteous. Only God can
see our actions and know our motives. Only God can accept our
repentance from sin and restore us completely. When we take on the
role of the Holy Spirit of God, we are likewise offering strange
fire. I Corinthians 3:13 explains that our good works will be judged
according to God’s standard,” fire
itself will test the quality of each man’s work“.
Are your good deeds done to bring honor to yourself, or to honor
God?
The
chapter continues with Moses ordering Aaron and the priests not to
mourn. They have a responsibility to administer the sin offerings on
behalf of the community and that role cannot be set aside. “But
your relatives, all the house of Israel may morn“.
God is grieved by every soul that does not repent, but all of heaven
rejoices “over
one sinner who repents”
(Luke 15:10). We have to be careful not to let our feelings dictate
our spiritual attitude. From eternity’s perspective, that red light
or rude comment toward us, or insult to our pride is meaningless
compares to your witness of God’s love.
The
chapter continues, the Lord told Aaron, “You
and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink when
ever you go into the Tent of Meeting“.
He continues, “You
must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean
and unclean and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the
Lord has given“.
We are called to be sober minded and anything that prevents the Holy
Spirit from working in our lives is a hindrance. While Romans 14:14
reminds us of our liberty in Christ, “nothing
is unclean in itself”
The apostle urges us, “not
to destroy with your food (or
drink)
him for whom Christ died”
(verse 15). He continues, “Let
us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one
another“.
If you allow God to work in your life, He will show Himself to be
holy and He will be honored by all the people.