The Sacredness of the Work
The minister stands as God’s mouthpiece to the people, and in
thought, in word, in act, he is to represent his Lord. When Moses was
chosen as the messenger of the covenant, the word given him was,
“Be thou for the people to Godward.” [
Exodus 18:19
.] Today God
chooses men as He chose Moses, to be His messengers, and heavy is
the woe resting on the one who dishonors his holy calling, or lowers
the standard set for him in the life and labors of the Son of God.
The punishment that fell upon Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron,
shows how God regards those ministers who do that which dishonors
their sacred office. These men were consecrated to the priesthood, but
they had not learned to control themselves. Habits of self-indulgence,
long cherished, had obtained a hold upon them which even the respon-
sibility of their office had not power to break.
At the hour of worship, as the prayers and praise of the people were
ascending to God, Nadab and Abihu, partially intoxicated, took each
his censer, and burned fragrant incense thereon. But they transgressed
God’s command by using “strange fire,” instead of the sacred fire
which God himself had kindled, and which He had commanded should
be used for this purpose. For this sin, a fire went out from the Lord,
and devoured them in the sight of the people. “Then Moses said unto
Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in
them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified.”
[See
Leviticus 10:1-7
.]
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Isaiah’s Commission
When God was about to send Isaiah with a message to His people,
He first permitted the prophet to look in vision into the holy of holies
within the sanctuary. Suddenly the gate and the inner veil of the
temple seemed to be uplifted or withdrawn, and he was permitted to
gaze within, upon the holy of holies, where even the prophet’s feet
might not enter. There rose before him a vision of Jehovah sitting
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