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Sin of Nadab and Abihu
225
Aaron’s mistaken indulgence of his sons prepared them to become
the receivers of divine judgment.
Partial Obedience Not Acceptable
God cannot accept partial obedience. It was not enough that in
this solemn worship nearly everything was done as He had directed.
[176]
No one should deceive himself with the belief that any of God’s
commandments are not necessary or that He will accept a substitute
for what He has required. There is no command that God has placed
in His Word that we may obey or disobey as we choose and not
suffer the consequences.
“Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons, ‘Do
not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, lest you die, ... for the
anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.’” The great leader reminded
his brother of the words of God, “Before all the people I must be
glorified.” Aaron was silent. The death of his sons in so terrible a
sin—a sin that he now saw to be the result of his own neglect of
duty—twisted the father’s heart with anguish. But he must not by
any show of grief seem to sympathize with sin. The congregation
must not be led to find fault with God.
The Lord wanted to teach His people to recognize and accept the
fairness of His corrections, so that others might respect Him. God
rebukes that false sympathy for the sinner that tries to excuse sin.
Those who do wrong do not realize the enormity of transgression,
and without the convicting power of the Holy Spirit they remain
partially blind to their sin. It is the duty of Christ’s servants to show
these erring ones their danger. Many have lost because of false and
deceptive sympathy.
Nadab and Abihu would never have committed that fatal sin if
they had not first become partially drunk by freely using wine. They
were disqualified for their holy work by their intemperance. Their
minds became confused and their moral senses dulled so that they
could not tell the difference between the sacred and the common.
God gave the warning to Aaron and his surviving sons, “Do not drink
... when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die.” The use
of alcoholic drinks prevents people from realizing the sacredness
of holy things or the permanent authority of God’s requirements.