The event surrounding the death of Nadab and Abihu is well known by many, but sadly, the lessons we learn from this event are ignored by many more. The offering had been consumed by the supernatural fire of God, Leviticus 9:24, but the sons of Aaron took it upon themselves to use an ‘unauthorised fire’ upon the altar, Leviticus 10:1, that is, a fire which was different from the flame which the Lord had.
We don’t know exactly what this ‘unauthorised fire’ was, but there are a few possibilities.
1. It’s possible they didn’t make the incense according to how God wanted it to be made, Exodus 30:34-38.
2. It’s possible they used fire which wasn’t from the altar, Leviticus 16:12.
3. It’s possible that the offering was offered at the wrong time, Exodus 30:7-8.
4. It’s possible they used the wrong censers, and finally, it’s possible that Nadab and Abihu assumed the role of their father, Aaron, as the high priest.
We don’t know exactly what it was they did, but we do know it wasn’t authorised by the Lord and therefore sinful. The result was that fire came out from the presence of the Lord in the tabernacle and killed them both, Leviticus 10:2 / 2 Corinthians 2:16.
This isn’t the only time where God has judged His people like this; we see God judging the first two sons of Judah because they didn’t fulfil their roles to Tamar, Genesis 38:7-10. Later, we read about Uzzah being struck down by God for touching the ark of the covenant, 2 Samuel 6:7-8. In the New Testament, we see Ananias and Sapphira being struck down by God for lying to God, Acts 5:1-11.
Moses then says to Aaron, This is what the LORD spoke of when He said, among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honoured, Leviticus 10:3.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The words used by Moses on this occasion are not found elsewhere in the Pentateuch. But the sense is implied in such passages as Exodus 19:22 / Exodus 28:41 / Exodus 29:1 / Exodus 29:44.’
And notice that Aaron remained silent, Leviticus 10:3 / Psalms 39:9. Moses then calls for Mishael and Elzaphan, Exodus 6:18 / Exodus 6:22, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, Exodus 6:18-22, and tells them to come and carry their cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary, Leviticus 10:4. They did so, still in their tunics, Exodus 28:39, outside the camp, Leviticus 10:5.
Imagine if Nadab and Abihu were your sons, and imagine finding out they are now both dead. This must have been heartbreaking for Aaron and his other two sons.
The heartache would be even greater as Israel was permitted to mourn their loss, but Aaron and his two other uncles’ sons weren’t permitted to mourn their loss, Leviticus 10:4-7 / Leviticus 10:6 / 1 Corinthians 12:26. The reason they weren’t permitted to mourn was because this could be interpreted by others as they excused the actions of Nadab and Abihu.
We learn that God must be worshipped as He ordains, we must worship Him as He requires; this is called the regulative principle, Deuteronomy 4:2 / Proverbs 30:6 / Revelation 22:18-19. We learn that obedience is better than sacrifice, 1 Samuel 15:22. This obedience extends to the rituals which God has ordained.
The presence of God can be either a curse or a blessing. The same fire which warmed the Israelites by night could also be used for judgment against those who sinned. While Jesus will be Judge when He sits ‘as a refiner and purifier of gold and silver’, Malachi 3:3 / Malachi 4:1, He will also be the ‘Sun of Righteousness, with healing in His wings’, Malachi 4:2.
It is possible to do the right thing in the wrong way. It is not that these sons of Aaron were trying to do evil; they appear to have been acting on good motives, and they were seeking to worship the Lord. Like Uzzah, 2 Samuel 6:7, they try to do a service for the Lord, but they do it improperly.
Knight, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Theirs was a flagrant piece of disobedience and disloyalty to God. These men were virtually saying, ‘Our fire is as good as yours, God! We don’t need yours.’ This is an acted parable of the way secular man thinks about his relation to God.’
Moses was heavily involved in this whole incident because He knew that obedience was important to God, and the Israelites would now know that God demands obedience. This would be an event that the Israelites wouldn’t forget in a hurry, 1 Samuel 15:22.