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Misplaced Love, April 6
Exodus 4:14-16
;
Exodus 4:27-31
He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
Psalm 105:26
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Aaron was a man of amiable disposition, whom God selected to stand with
Moses and speak for him.... God might have chosen Aaron as leader; but He
who is acquainted with hearts, who understands character, knew that Aaron
was yielding and lacked moral courage to stand in defense of the right under all
circumstances, irrespective of consequences. Aaron’s desire to have the good
will of the people sometimes led him to commit great wrongs.... The same lack
of firmness for the right in his family resulted in the death of two of his sons....
Nadab and Abihu failed to reverence the command of God to offer sacred fire
upon their censers with the incense before Him....
Here is seen the result of loose discipline. As these sons of Aaron had not
been educated to respect and reverence the commands of their father, as they
disregarded parental authority, they did not realize the necessity of explicitly
following the requirements of God.... Contrary to God’s express direction, they
dishonored Him by offering common instead of sacred fire. God visited them
with His wrath; fire went forth from His presence and destroyed them.
Aaron bore his severe affliction with patience and humble submission. Sor-
row and keen agony wrung his soul. He was convicted of his neglect of duty. He
was priest of the most high God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
He was priest of his household, yet he had been inclined to pass over the folly of
his children. He had neglected his duty to train and educate them to obedience,
self-denial, and reverence for parental authority. Through feelings of misplaced
indulgence, he failed to mold their characters with high reverence for eternal
things. Aaron did not see, any more than many Christian parents now see, that
his misplaced love and the indulgence of his children in wrong was preparing
them for the certain displeasure of God.... His gentle remonstrance, without a
firm exercise of parental restraint, and his imprudent tenderness toward his sons
were cruelty in the extreme
[103]
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Testimonies for the Church 3:293-295
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105