Whoosh! He's blazing. It's what happens when you tick off God. One minute they're standing there proud as peacocks. The next, they're shish kabobs without the skewer. Apparently God was dead serious about what the priests were to do and what they weren't. God gave implicit instructions how he wanted the sacrifices to be given and what was acceptable to Him. He warned them of the consequences. When Nadab and Abihu decided to freelance a little in their fancy new threads, God didn't take too kindly to their actions. You might say He was flaming mad.
If you read the text, you will see that Nadab and Abihu offered an unauthorized fire before the Lord contrary to God's command. Their arrogance cost them their lives. A fire came immediately out of the Tent of Meeting and consumed them. These two thought they were hot, but in an instant God made them hotter.
I've always wondered why God was so quick to act against these guys. It reminds me a lot of Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts who brought their offering to Peter, lied about it the total amount and dropped dead on the spot. No doubt the people who witnessed the events suddenly took God seriously.
As I look at both incidents, there are some similarities. It appears to me that both were trying to grab a little extra attention for themselves. Nadab and Abihu, no doubt, thought that they were privileged and my guess were showing off just a little bit. God doesn't share the stage with anyone. When He gives specific instructions, He expects them to be followed to the letter. These were crucial days for the Children of Israel. If the people were to understand and observe these new teachings, then they had to understand that God meant what He said. So God gave them an example of how serious He was about this new covenant He was establishing with them. He demonstrated that no one was immune to breaking the Law. No one would escape the consequences.
Some of us try to minimize God's truths and teachings today. However, God isn't about to alter His truths and teaching or the consequences just to satisfy our whims, desires, wants, or agendas. God allows us the choice of how we want to live, but He doesn't allow us to choose the consequences or eliminate them all together. God's truths and teachings are for our benefit, not just arbitrary rules He established to make us miserable.
God, thanks for your teaching and truths that guide my life. Countless times I've violated those truths only to discover you were right all along. I've created a lot of unnecessary pain in my own life and the lives of others because of my arrogance and free wheeling. Thanks for your forgiveness and grace, Lord, for righting my ship when I begin to list.
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