Can I Know The Will Of God? Pt. 20 Beware Of Strange Fire!

We now come to the beginning of Israel's worship as prescribed by God. 

We may think that this is a strange account but it is very relevant to the church of Jesus Christ, because it is connected with the right worship of God.

In the first seven chapters God gave detailed instructions on the sacrifices, burnt offerings, and their application. All the details were understood by Moses, Aaron and the people. 

All necessary things needed to approach and worship God were put in place, ready to do as God commanded. 

Aaron was the brother of Moses and he had two sons. Aaron's entire family was consecrated for the priesthood by Jehovah.

Jehovah sent holy fire to accept their sacrifices.  

Leviticus 9:22-24  And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 23)  And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. 24)  And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. 

Leviticus 8 finds that Aaron and his sons were consecrated to be priests by Jehovah. The tabernacle of worship had been erected and all was ready for the people to worship.

Jehovah commanded the priests to keep the fire burning.

Leviticus 6:12,13  And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 13)  The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. 

Jehovah gave a clear command to Aaron and his sons. The fire on the altar was to be kept burning at all times. It was not to be allowed to go out.

At the end of Leviticus 9, the animals have been sacrificed, the blood had been applied and the carcasses of the sacrificial animals had been laid in the proper order on the altar.

Aaron lifted up his hands and blessed the Hebrew people. He and Moses came down from the altar. As soon as this happened, the glory of Jehovah appeared and all the people saw it. 

Then, fire came out from Jehovah that consumed the burnt offerings and the fat. God accepted the sacrifices offered for the sins of His people. They all shouted and fell on their faces before such a holy God. 

At this point, the priests were commanded to keep the fire on the altar burning at all times, so that sin could be dealt with any time of day or night. 

Nadab and Abihu were the sons of a godly man, Israel's High Priest and they were Aaron's oldest sons. Yet, they committed a great sin before the LORD, as we shall see. 

In essence, they did something that God did not tell them to do. They took their censers and offered strange fire to Jehovah. 

They entered the holy of holies where only Moses and Aaron were permitted by God to serve.

Abihu and Nadab saw God's glory. 

Exodus 24:9,10  Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: 10)  And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. 

Jehovah previously placed high honor upon Abihu and Nadab. They were invited to come to Mount Sinai and commune with the LORD of glory. This text describes what they saw in His presence. 

What happens at the beginning of the very next chapter is astounding and instructive.

Abihu and Nadab dishonored God with their rash behavior.  

Leviticus 10:1,2  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. 2)  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 

A censer is a small hand held container for holding fiery ashes or coals. 

The gravity of the young men's sin is made evident in the severity of God's judgment. He sent out a fire that devoured both of them and both men perished. 

God commanded the priests to keep the fire burning on the altar and He gave them the ability to keep it burning constantly. 

Therefore, this fire was consecrated to be used for all burnt offerings and for the incense offering. When they offered strange fire, it meant that they offered common fire, such as fire from cooking food. 

God did specifically forbid burning "strange incense" but He never said anything about strange fire. This reminds us that there are times when God expects us to use our Bible and brain in order to discern His will.  

Instead of taking fire for their censers from the brazen altar, they were content with obtaining common fire. 

Both men witnessed the miraculous fire from God and they received a solemn obligation to use only holy fire. Therefore, they were careless with regard to the priestly office. 

Leviticus 10:3  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.

Jehovah's response was direct. "I will be sanctified in all who come near me and I will be glorified before all the people." 

God is holy and we are commanded to be holy for He is holy. The actions of Abihu and Nadab were unholy acts. They intruded on the high priest's office. They assumed that they could offer common fire without consulting Moses. They presumptuously took it upon themselves to offer incense which they were not instructed to do. 

For all these things, God judged them. They were not burned alive nor was their clothing destroyed. Rather they were suddenly killed by fire before Jehovah's presence. 

What might strange fire look like in our lives?

Ephesians 4:22-24  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

I think bringing with us those awful things which we are commanded by the apostles to "put off" would be bringing strange fire into the presence of God.  

Harboring grudges against someone. Having evil desires or thinking malicious thoughts about others. Being lukewarm toward God. Being a gossip. Being a complainer. Spreading lies or rumors. 

Each of these things are strange fire and must be purged from our hearts. 

Paul tells us very clearly what evil things in our life that we must put off or discard. These are the "old man" things that are corrupt. 

Instead, before we come before God to worship Him, we must "put on" our new man in Christ and be renewed in our minds. Why? For our new man in Christ is created in righteousness and holiness, which God requires and which is pleasing to Him. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

First, we must make sure that we have confessed and forsaken our sins, so that the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse and remove our unrighteousness. (The put off).

Second, we must maintain a reverence and fear of God, knowing that He is holy and we are not. (The put on).

Third, we must never assume that we can do something because God did not specifically forbid it. 

1 Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

Our thoughts, words and actions must reflect the holiness of God and Christ in us, to ensure that we are sanctified in our response to Him.

When we worship God, we are drawing near to Him and we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. 

We must not offer any worship except what He has commanded (See Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:18-19).

When we draw near to Him we should take heed to sanctify His holy name.

In matters of worship, God pays attention to even little details. He is very explicit in both small and large details of worship. 

May these truths bring a renewed commitment to love and serve God in our hearts. May we draw closer to Him with hearts having a full assurance of faith.

Bob