Fire from the Lord

“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them to do. Then, flames leaped from the Lord’s presence and burned them to death before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:1-2 CSB)

These two verses above can be perplexing. On the surface, it appears that Nadab and Abihu were performing their priestly ministries normally and doing what was expected of them, and that God took their lives because He did not like the source of the fire they brought before Him. Further thought, however, is enlightening.

First, Aaron and all his sons had been warned repeatedly that they must carry out the commands of the Lord fully as specified. Not to do so would result in the forfeiture of their lives. Nadab and Abihu knew this.

Just prior to this event, a number of offerings were placed on the altar as burnt offerings to the Lord. When the glory of the Lord appeared, fire came out from His glory and then consumed the offerings on the altar.

On another day Nadab and Abihu brought coals to offer incense before God, but these coals did not come from the altar. They apparently assumed that it did not matter, and that coals from any fire would be all right. In other words, they simply disregarded God’s warnings and His instructions about these worship matters, and since this was a the very outset of the Levitical priesthood, a disregard at this point would certainly set the stage for further disregard later. Therefore, God could not allow this breach of His holiness, and He sent judgment on the two. In the Old Testament “fire from heaven” appears twelve times. Six times it is beneficial, and six times it is a judgment, and it was certainly a judgment on Nadab and Abihu.

While this story may seem harsh and disturbing, it points us to a very important truth that the worship of God is not something to be taken lightly. Not “just any old thing” will do. Worship is to be sincere, and we are not to treat it as if it does not matter. It isn’t that we have to “get everything right” in our worship. Rather, we are to hold a genuine reverence in our hearts toward God and love for Him and His word, and worship given in that sense is always acceptable to Him.

Lord, May the meditations of our hearts and minds, and may all our worship of You be acceptable in Your sight. And may all our worship before You come from the heart in ways that truly honor You. Amen.