Strange Fire
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the congregation, lest ye die; for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon
you. And they did according to the word of Moses.” The father of the
men slain, and their brothers, were forbidden to manifest any signs of
grief for the ones who had been justly punished of God. When Moses
reminded Aaron of the words of the Lord, that he would be sanctified
in them that come nigh to him, Aaron was silent. He knew that God
was just, and he murmured not. His heart was grieved at the dreadful
death of his sons, while in their disobedience. Yet, according to God’s
command, he made no expression of his sorrow, lest he should share
the same fate of his sons, and the congregation also be infected with
the spirit of unreconciliation, and God’s wrath come upon them.
[13]
“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor
strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the taber-
nacle of the congregation, lest ye die. It shall be a statute forever
throughout your generations. And that ye may put difference between
holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.”
When the Israelites committed sin, and God punished them for
their transgression, and the people mourned for the fate of the one
punished, instead of sorrowing because God had been dishonored, the
sympathizers were accounted equally guilty as the transgressor.
The Lord teaches us, in the directions given to Aaron, reconcili-
ation to his just punishments, even if his wrath comes very nigh. He
would have his people acknowledge the justness of his corrections,
that others may fear. In these last days many are liable to be self-
deceived, and they are unable to see their own wrongs. If God, through
his servants, reprove and rebuke the erring, there are those who stand
ready to sympathize with those who deserve reproof. They will seek
to lighten the burden which God compelled his servants to lay upon
them. These sympathizers think they are performing a virtuous act by
sympathizing with the one at fault, whose course may have greatly
injured the cause of God. Such are deceived. They are only arraying
themselves against God’s servants, who have done his will, and against
God himself, and are equally guilty with the transgressor. There are
many erring souls who might have been saved if they had not been
deceived by receiving false sympathy.
The case of Aaron’s sons has been placed upon record for the
benefit of God’s people, and should teach those especially who are
preparing for the second coming of Christ, that the indulgence of a