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From Eternity Past
of God. Aaron’s mistaken indulgence of his sons prepared them to
become the subjects 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. Let no
one deceive himself with the belief that a part of God’s commandments
are nonessential, or that He will accept a substitute for that which He
has required. God has placed in His Word no command which men
may obey or disobey at will and not suffer the consequences.
“Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his
sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye 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 will
be glorified.” Aaron was silent. The death of his sons in so terrible
a sin—a sin which he now saw to be the result of his own neglect of
duty—wrung the father’s heart with anguish. But by no manifestation
of grief must he seem to sympathize with sin. The congregation must
not be led to murmur against God.
The Lord would teach His people to acknowledge the justice of
His corrections, that others may fear. The divine rebuke is upon that
false sympathy for the sinner which endeavors to excuse his sin. The
wrongdoer does not realize the enormity of transgression, and without
the convicting power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness
to his sin. It is the duty of Christ’s servants to show these erring ones
their peril. Many have gone down to ruin as the result of false and
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deceptive sympathy.
Nadab and Abihu would never have committed that fatal sin had
they not first become partially intoxicated by the free use of wine.
By intemperance they were disqualified for their holy office. Their
minds became confused and their moral perceptions dulled so that they
could not discern the difference between the sacred and the common.
To Aaron and his surviving sons was given the warning, “Do not
drink ... when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye
die.” The use of spirituous liquors prevents men from realizing the
sacredness of holy things or the binding force of God’s requirements.
All who occupied positions of responsibility were to be men of strict