Nadab and Abihu

Lev. 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. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

About these two brothers

• Their father was Aaron, first high-priest of Israel• Moses was their uncle• Their brothers were Eleazar and

Ithamar• Born in Egypt and grew up in bondage

• They witnessed the plagues God sent upon Egypt• Crossed the Red Sea on dry

ground• Saw God’s manifestation on Mt.

Sinai

• Had eaten the manna and the quail God provided• Had spent the last 8 days in the

courtyard of the tabernacle undergoing their consecration and dedication for the priesthood

1. The strange fire

• Any fire which God had not authorized• Lev. 10:1

“….offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.”

Lev. 16:12-13

• And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

Lesson for us

• In worshipping God man is limited to that which God has authorized• Anything else is sin

1 Cor. 4:6 (ASV)

• Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.

Mt. 28:20

• Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Rev. 22:18-19

• For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

2. Why did they do such a foolish thing?

• The excitement of the occasion?• Had they used strong drink?• The result of hasty judgment?• Might have been a case of will-

worship

• It could have been a case of deliberate disobedience

Deut. 17:12

• And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

3. The severe punishment

• The sin was publicly committed• The act was a deliberate violation

of a known law• It showed that God’s law must be

followed & also exalted His law

• No doubt it convinced thousands of others not to take God’s law lightly

4. Lessons To Remember

• A. We must not tamper with God’s sacred things• B. Being in a high and lofty

position does not place men beyond temptation to commit sin

• C. God accepts only what he authorizes in religion• 1 Sam. 15:22• “Behold, to obey is better than

sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

• D. Much of what man offers for worship to God is really “strange fire”• Instrumental music, praise teams,

choirs, beads, incense, women preachers, women elders etc.

• E. The same fire that consumed Aaron’s sacrifice, showing God’s approval, destroyed his sons in disapproval

Heb. 12:29

• For our God is a consuming fire.

References

• Nabad and Abihu, Partners in Presumption by John Waddey