September 5, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Leviticus and Ephesians? Here’s today’s reading:
Leviticus 10 (NIV)
The Death of Nadab and Abihu
1 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. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:……Continue Reading
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Leviticus 9 & 10
The sons offered unauthorized fire before the Lord and are struck dead. God required that they distinguish between the holy and the unholy or common. What do we have now that is called holy?
1 Peter 1 says that we, the church are holy, and he outlines what holiness looks like (and doesn’t look like.)
”Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.“
I Peter 2:1-5, 9-10 NKJV
Leviticus 10…a really hard day for Aaron.
Not sure what Aaron’s sons had done wrong. But whatever it was made the sacrifices unholy. They knew the proper responsibility. But chose their own method. As leaders many could have followed their own methods also. It is important as leaders to follow the advice and wisdom from above.
Leviticus 10 Aaron’s sons Nadab & Abihu took it upon themselves to do an unauthorized offering and God destroyed them with fire. After all the instructions and precise descriptions on what God wanted and how he wanted offerings and worship and they disrespected God’s wishes and did it their way which could have led people astray, and they paid a price for it. We need to stay close to God especially if we want to be an example for God, so that we don’t lead people away from God by doing things our way instead of his way.
Leviticus 10
Aaron`s two oldest sons offered unauthorized {strange} fire before the Lord and were consumed by fire from the Lord so they died. It doesn`t say what this strange fire was. But it was very important to our Holy God. Latter in the chapter a requirement is given for priests not to have wine or strong drink when they were serving in the tabernacle. verse 9. Perhaps this was the reason. Not to mix holy with unholy or they would die. verse 10. But there could have been other reasons. Here is what The Bible Knowledge Commentary says: [Perhaps they used coals in their censers that came from elsewhere than the altar or they may have offered at the wrong time of day. It may even be that they sought to go into the most holy place, and so usurped the prerogative of the high priest on the Day of Atonement.] This commentary also brings up the wine and strong drink as a possible reason. To me the strong drink and wine seems to be the best possible answer given that it is mentioned very soon after the death of the two older sons of Aaron. This is only my thought and doesn`t actually say. Now the third and forth sons of Aaron {Eleazar and Ithamar} are given the roles of the two older sons. Aaron and his remaining sons are to stay inside the tabernacle and not attend the funeral of their relatives. According to the commentary this is in harmony with the latter prohibition against having the high priests take part in any of the funerals of their relatives. 21:10-12. The priests were to stay inside with their heads covered or they would die. High standards but they were representing God to the people. Thank God; we have a High Priest that represents us and we can come before Him in worship. That being Jesus Christ. God bless you all.
Leviticus 10
Aaron’s sons should have known better, but perhaps it was alcohol that compromised their better judgement. But God had made it clear that they were to regard the things of the tabernacle as holy and particularly how they would present things to God. I was struck by Aaron’s silence because what could he say in defense after God had made things clear. And to set an example of belief and trust that God knows what He is doing even when He is doing something harsh, they are instructed not to mourn and maintain their presence in the front of the tabernacle. It is interesting when a misstep happens at the end of the chapter that is not as flagrant or willful, God gives further instruction. This shows that what Nadab and Abihu had done must have been really bad and prideful.
Leviticus 10
Aaron’s sons did not follow God’s directions and were struck down on the spot. It seems this must have been of a serious nature as we don’t often see God make this decision when people sin…thank goodness!