Today's passage: Leviticus 10
Helpful thoughts:
- After all of the instruction had been given and all the preparation had been made for the priests and the service in the tabernacle, two of Aaron's sons decided to offer a form of worship of their own devising. The Lord took their lives immediately.
- Aaron and his surviving sons were to continue carrying out their tasks in service.
- It is quite possible alcohol was involved given the command in verse 8.
- In verses 10-11 God directly communicates to Aaron what to role of the priests was:
- Distinguish between the holy and the common.
- Distinguish between the clean and the unclean.
- Teach God's law to the people.
- The meat from the sin offering had been given as a provision for the priests. Given the events of the day, Moses' concern was heightened for total obedience. Aaron understood the meat to be a provision and also likely a celebration of forgiveness. On this day, after losing his sons, he didn't feel like celebrating. Moses understood his logic and his actions, and evidently, the Lord agreed.
Questions to consider:
- How did the event of Nadab's and Abihu's rebellion and death cause Moses, Aaron and his sons to respond? How did their view of their task and God's expectations become more focused? How was their fear of God effected?
- What was Nadab's and Abihu's sin? Beside simply offering unauthorized (Or “strange”) fire, what did their actions show concerning their reverence of the Lord?
- Now being under the New Covenant, covered in Christ's blood, and with the whole of Scripture available to us, what would be a right response for Christians today concerning reverence and obedience to the Lord? What kind of fear would be unnecessary? What reason should we refrain from becoming flippant?