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The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
This chapter is based on Leviticus 10:1-11.
After the dedication of the tabernacle, the priests were conse-
crated for their sacred work. These services lasted seven days, and
on the eighth day Aaron offered the sacrifices that God required. All
had been done as God commanded, and He revealed His glory in
a dramatic way—fire came and burned up the offering on the altar.
All together the people raised a shout of praise and worship and fell
on their faces.
But soon after this, a terrible tragedy happened to the family of
Aaron, the high priest. Two of his sons each took his censer and
burned fragrant incense before the Lord. But they disobeyed God’s
command by using “profane fire.” They took common fire (lit by
man)instead of the sacred fire that God Himself had provided. For
this sin, fire from the Lord devoured them in the sight of the people.
Next to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu had the highest
position in Israel. They had been especially honored by the Lord,
having been permitted with the seventy elders to see His glory on
the mountain. All this made their sin more serious. If people have
received great light, if like the princes of Israel they have ascended
the mountain and been privileged to have communion with God in
the light of His glory, they should not think that they can sin with no
consequences, that God will not be strict to punish their wickedness.
Great privileges require goodness and holiness that correspond to
the light given. Great blessings never give permission to sin.
Nadab and Abihu had not been trained to use self-control. Their
father’s gentle disposition had led him to neglect to discipline his
children. He had permitted his sons to follow whatever they wanted.
Habits of self-indulgence became so powerful over them that even
the responsibility of the most sacred work did not have power to
break. They had not been taught to respect their father and they did
not realize the need of exact obedience to the requirements of God.
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