Nadab And Abihu

Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.

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 9:23 - 10:2)

 

One of the challenges of reading Middle Eastern literature is that time isn’t always documented. We aren’t told how much time passed between chapters nine and ten. Given the fact that the Israelites made the golden calf while Moses was receiving the commandments from God, I can believe that the two events happened at about the same time.

Something else about Nadab and Abihu. God invited them part way up Mount Sinai, along with Aaron and seventy elders. To act as priests, they had to be older than 30. They weren’t adolescents. They were granted that privilege by an omniscient God who knew what their sin would be. It isn’t clear to me precisely what their sin was. It was described as “unauthorized” (“strange” in other translations) fire. Did they use incense with the wrong ingredients? Did they offer it at a time that was not acceptable?

After they died, Aaron refused to eat the sacrifice as instructed. Moses questioned him about it, and was satisfied that Aaron was acting in good conscience. God didn’t punish anyone for Aaron’s behavior. That suggests that Nadab and Abihu didn’t make an honest mistake and weren’t acting in good conscience. In Moses’s instructions to Aaron immediately after his sons died, priests were commanded not to drink wine, so there is at least some justification to the theory that Nadab and Abihu were intoxicated. I doubt they were so when they were consecrated, so perhaps they’d been celebrating and were showing off their new “power.” Perhaps because they’d been celebrating, they were being less than responsible with an assigned task. Whatever the reason, they weren’t giving God the respect He was due. As leaders in Israel, this could not be permitted.  

What are we to make of this? How does it apply to us? We aren’t Jews and aren’t required to make the sacrifices described in Leviticus. But… “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (I Peter 2:9) We do have responsibilities toward God that we need to take seriously. Those called to the priesthood are judged according to a higher standard. Going through the motions isn’t good enough.

Another important consideration is the pattern. Some would say, “power corrupts.” Others, “Pride goes before a fall.” Whatever the aphorism, it seems that failure often follows success. It is wise to be cautious with ourselves after victories; they are not justifications for us to rest on our laurels.

Father, as I fail, grant me wisdom, direction and attitude. Even more as I succeed, grant me wisdom, direction and attitude. Change me, that I might live in accordance with the higher standard You have set for Your children.