Chapter 31—The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
This chapter is based on
Leviticus 10:1-11
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After the dedication of the tabernacle, the priests were consecrated
to their sacred office. These services occupied seven days; 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 remarkable
manner—fire came and consumed the offering upon the altar. The
people raised a universal shout of praise and adoration and fell on their
faces.
But soon afterward a terrible calamity fell upon the family of the
high priest. Two of the sons of Aaron took each his censer and burned
fragrant incense before the Lord. But they transgressed His command
by the use of “strange fire.” They took common instead of the sacred
fire which God Himself had kindled. For this sin, fire from the Lord
devoured them in the sight of the people.
Next to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu had stood highest in
Israel. They had been especially honored by the Lord, having been
permitted with the seventy elders to behold His glory in the mount.
All this rendered their sin more grievous. Because men have received
great light, because they have, like the princes of Israel, ascended to
the mount and been privileged to have communion with God in the
light of His glory, let them not flatter themselves that they can sin with
impunity, that God will not be strict to punish their iniquity. Great
privileges require virtue and holiness corresponding to the light given.
Great blessings never give license to sin.
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Nadab and Abihu had not been trained to habits of self-control.
The father’s yielding disposition had led him to neglect the discipline
of his children. His sons had been permitted to follow inclination.
Habits of self-indulgence obtained a hold upon them which even the
responsibility of the most sacred office had not power to break. They
did not realize the necessity of exact obedience to the requirements
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