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| Leviticus 10:1-3 |
“Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD” (Leviticus 10:1-2).
The temple had been prepared, the priests and the articles for worship had been anointed. They did all they had been instructed to do and the presence of the LORD flooded the tabernacle. All the congregation except for two shouted for joy and fell on their faces before God. This is an appropriate response to the powerful presence of God.
Two of the priests, Nadab and Abihu, did not fall on their faces with joy-filled awe. Instead, they grabbed their censors and, as the Bible tells us, offered profane fire before the Lord. When all the rest of Israel went low, Nadab and Abihu grabbed their censors and went near the altar to perform work than had been prescribed. What might this suggest about them and why their fire was considered profane?
It is very important to follow God’s commands as He gives them. Israel was coming from a culture of idol worship. Not that long ago, Aaron fashioned a false god in the form of a golden calf. It was a god controlled by men. They had never before experience a God not controlled by man’s actions. Nadab and Abihu offered an offering they were not commanded to offer; they were stuck in the old, when God was calling them to the glorious new.
I believe God gives grace for our learning curve when we come to Him. I believe He also gave the same grace to Israel as they transformed from slaves in Egypt to the children of God. Otherwise they would not have made it through to the Promised Land. This causes me to believe the profane fire was born of unholy motives rather than a mistake in ministry. This might explain the severity of the consequence as fire came out and consumed both of them.
Nadab and Abihu most likely grabbed their censors for one or both of these reasons: first, they thought they were in control of the Deity and brought the censors to further control the God Whom they were to obey. Second, they liked the power and anointing of the priesthood too much and desired to be seen in the midst of the power of God. Their dangerous-pride caused them to exalt themselves with the power of God displayed instead of knowing their place bowed down with faces to the ground.
Moses’s answer reveals the core issue, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified’” (Leviticus 10:3). Nadab and Abihu’s actions reflected their hearts and motives before the Lord. They did not regard Him as holy and they did not give Him the glory, but tried to share in it. This is profane fire.
There is a picture here of the difference between religion and relationship. The religious will continue at the altar and miss the very presence of God. While those living relationally with the Most High God through Jesus Christ, will experience the miraculous and divine presence. They will know to stop what they are doing religiously and allow Him to guide the proceedings from there. Furthermore, it is the picture of those who live relationally, when they experience God’s presence, think they can do anything to manipulate or maintain that very presence instead of simply bowing to Him in reverence knowing He is holy and to be praised.
“Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy. The King’s strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool—He is holy” (Psalm 99:3-5).
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