The Open Show: Nahab and Abihu

"Aaron's sons Nahab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD" (Leviticus 10:1-2).

It's a dangerous thing to engage in activity that is in opposition to the mandate of God. Nahab and Abihu approached the presence of God unworthily, and in the light of His awesome presence they perished.

God particularly doesn't like it when people approach Him with unauthorized forms of worship. He made this clear at the beginning of man's history, as we see recorded in Genesis 4. Cain was rebuked and warned for his offering of fruits: "if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door" (see Genesis 4:7). The implication is that Cain knew what was the right thing to offer, but chose to offer an alternative.

We have the same scenario in Leviticus 10. Nadab and Abihu, along with their two brothers, were present with their father Aaron as Moses instructed them on the proper way to offer the various sacrifices and offerings before the LORD. So they were not ignorant, they were disobedient. But, unlike Cain, Nahab and Abihu did not get a second chance.

God had said previously, "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy" (Leviticus 10:3) - and in that statement we are reminded of the power of God which presents itself in the community of faith, which we've discussed in several of the Back to Basics blogs. There is no question that God shows up. But there is a question of whether the people of God are ready to experience what happens when He shows up in His power.

There are modern-day versions of this scenario, where we see the service of worship compromised by persons who, knowing the mandate of God, choose to step in and defiantly do their own thing. Armed with laptop and lectionary, they make up their own contributions to a ministry they were not called to. And God, in His grace, still ensures that the message He intended to send is sent clearly. "My word will not return void, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it..." (see Isaiah 55:10-11). But the day comes when He shows up... and when He does, make sure you are not found offering the strange fire. If you are, you will die and someone will carry you out of the sanctuary (Leviticus 10:4). Those who disobey the mandate of God will be put to an open show.