THE BACKGROUND – Leviticus 8-9:
The background for the story of Nadab and Abihu is found first in chapters 8-9. Leviticus 8-10 are a trilogy, if you will, relating to the ordination of the priests of God under the old law and the sacrifices that were offered at that specific time.
As you read through these two chapters, please note the consistent use of the expression “just as the Lord commanded Moses”: 8:4, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 29.
After all of this ceremony, Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, were all properly prepared in the eyes of God to serve as priests between Israel and God.
At this point, they celebrated a 7-day long ritual, told in 8:31-36. This ceremony was repeated every day for seven days. Why? Because these priests needed atonement. Every human has sin in their life and these men, as godly as they might have been, needed to have their sins cleansed so they could represent God’s sinful people before the holy God. In this paragraph, I want us to pay attention to verses 34-36.
Chapter 9 focuses on the priests themselves and their service. In this chapter, note these verses: 5, 7, 10, 21. Once Israel and her priests had done all that the Lord had commanded Moses and the priests, it was time for them to receive the blessings from God. We find that in 9:22-24.
We have set up all of this to prepare the context for the story of Nadab and Abihu. Up to this point, it has been repeatedly emphasized that Israel did what God had commanded. When they had completed what God had authorized, God sent fire from heaven to show His acceptance of their sacrifice, their worship.
But things take a drastic turn for the worse in chapter 10 when Nadab and Abihu decided they don’t have to do things God’s way…
THE ROLE OF PRIESTS IN ISRAELITE RELIGION – Leviticus 10:1-3:
Back in Exodus 30:9, God had said, as a part of the Law of Moses, “You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it.” At the end of that very chapter, God had given Israel a specific recipe for the incense and He also specifically told them not to use that same recipe in their home.
We do not know the specifics of what Nadab and Abihu did; the text is not clear. Except, it is said that they offered “strange fire” before the Lord and that “strange fire” is defined as “which He had not commanded them.” The simple point of the story is that Nadab and Abihu did not give to God what God had authorized.
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This statement that Nadab and Abihu offered what God had not commanded them is set in stark contrast to the thirteen times in chapters 8 & 9 that it is said that Moses and Israel did just what the Lord had commanded them.
The same fire that came out of heaven to consume in approval of the sacrifices offered in chapter 9 now comes out of heaven in disapproval to consume the worshippers. Throughout the OT, fire has come down from heaven a dozen times; half are to show approval and half are to show God’s disapproval.
God is pure holiness. Worship to God is also pure holiness. Understanding how holy worship is, then we understand how serious this punishment was. Here at the very beginning of Israel’s religion, God has emphasized to them: “You do things My way.” If God had allowed Aaron’s sons, as priests, to transgress the law of God and not be punished, the nation of Israel would have been even worse at neglecting the commandments of God! They were bad enough as it was; they would have been worse.
NEW TESTAMENT APPLICATION:
It is not hard to see the application of this point. You and I, and all humanity, are obligated to obey the commands of God. If God says it, we are responsible for obeying it. That applies to our lives in the church and it applies to our private, personal lives. If God commands something, we are obligated to obey it.
The reason why the churches of Christ immerse in water for the forgiveness of sins is because that’s what God has commanded.
The reason why the churches of Christ do not worship with mechanical instruments of music in worship but only with our voices is because that’s what God has commanded.
The reason why the churches of Christ use only Christian males in worship and leadership in the church is because that’s what God has commanded.
The reason why churches of Christ allow second marriages only in the case where the first marriage was broken because of infidelity is because that’s what Christ has commanded.
Let us study the New Testament to learn the commands of Christ; let us obey the commands of Christ; let us leave the commanding to Christ.
Paul Holland
