Earlier, we studied how the priests were to dress and what they were to do and how they were to be commissioned, thus "set apart" for the work of priesthood. Here we will see it all play out......almost exactly as God instructed. God was training His people, teaching them daily about Himself. When God's instruction is not followed to the smallest detail, the consequences are serious.
The elders have gathered to witness the commissioning of Aaron as High Priest for Israel. The oil was poured on his head, different than the sprinkling we've seen before. Aaron and his sons were to be inside the Tabernacle for seven days, the eighth day meaning the purification was complete. First order of business: purify the High Priest. Did you find it interesting that after all the bulls and goats and sheep and birds, that a calf was chosen for Aaron to sacrifice? Hmmmmm. He, with instruction through Moses, gave sin-offering for himself, and for the people of Israel. After all of the details of the different sacrifices, Aaron lifted his hands up toward the people and blessed them. The glory of the Lord shone before them, and there came a FIRE from heaven upon the altar. God had accepted the service of sacrifice, and forgiven their sin. This was no ordinary fire!
Now, here's where we hit a bump in the road. In chapter 6, there was mention of how the fire should be kept burning and should never go out. Chapter 10 opens with two of the sons of Aaron offering "strange" fire before the Lord and their being immediately devoured by the holy fire of God! They drew near to God, but not on His terms and the consequence was death. (I read that it may have been like lightning, since the bodies were not consumed?) Moses spoke precious few words to his brother, Aaron, offering only a reminder that God gave instruction, and Aaron and his other sons were not to mourn for the loss. This may seem harsh to us, but Aaron seemed to acknowledge God's justice and was submitted to it.....he held his peace. The bodies were carried out, in their priestly clothes outside the camp.
We are about to read some tough chapters in God's word. We will not always understand, certainly because His ways are not ours. We must trust, through faith, that God is holy and just and loves us very much. Everything that is written is to teach us (Rom. 15:4). His purpose is to bring glory to Himself through a relationship with us. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you in a new way today.
Thanks, Jaybrena, good review. I thought the explanation of the death of Aaron's sons by lightening was a good explanation - had never pictured that, but it sounds likely. I felt sorry for him though that he could not "grieve" for his sons. I think I remember a Bible study in which Beth Moore explained about the "unholy fire" that they brought before the Lord, does anyone remember that explanation - for some reason it escapes me, but I thought it good at the time! Memory fails me (again)!!
ReplyDeleteFrom Beth's Study Guide: To place our incense before the throne of grace on any other basis except the blood atonement of Jesus Christ is to offer “unauthorized” or “strange” fire. Beth Moore writes, “… the incense of our prayer and worship is the Holy Spirit, and the fire that enables the fragrance to rise is Jesus Christ.
ReplyDelete“The One who deems the fire and incense acceptable or unacceptable is Father God. All three members of the holy Trinity act on our behalf. All of the Divine Nature combines to offer us the privilege of true worship. God the Father invites us to worship, God the Son ignites us to worship, and God the Spirit incites us to worship.” (Is that it, Mrs. Barbara?)
These are just my thoughts, that we don’t get much explanation of this “strange fire,” but we do know that God repeatedly instructed that these steps be followed HIS way. Bringing fire from a source other than the altar of sacrifice might have been the sin of Nadab and Abihu, because it is only through sacrifice and shed blood that we can approach God in prayer. A fire lit from anywhere else could be “strange fire,” just as approaching God based on our own merits or accomplishments, or anything other than the blood of JESUS, hinders our prayers?
ReplyDeleteLOVE that picture you found Jaybrena! It really helps to give a good visual for how things were set up and what the fire from heaven possibly looked like. My ESV Study Bible says this about what it translates "unauthorized fire", it calls it literally strange or foreign fire: "The offense lies in their doing it their own way instead of in a way authorized by the Lord, and as a result they were instantly killed. The point of the story is that God will not allow his holiness to be violated, not even by members of the high priest family." As mentioned in earlier posts, I think we have become desensitized to how horrible our sin really is and that God is HOLY and He CANNOT by His very nature accept ANY sin! We all would do well to keep that in mind...how much differently would we act and respond to temptation if we knew we could instantly die on the spot due to a sinful decision???
ReplyDeleteYes, that was it, Jaybrena - Coming to God through any other means other than the shed blood of Christ. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDIRECTIONS ARE GOOD BUT A WALK THROUGH OF HOW THINGS NEED TO BE DONE IS EVEN BETTER FOR ME. MOSES WAS TEACHING HIS BROTHER AND NEPHEWS HOW TO MAKE SACRIFICES AND DO AS GOD HAS COMMANDED. WE NEED TO SET EXAMPLES FOR THOSE AROUND US SO THEY WILL KNOW HOW GOD WANTS THINGS DONE. IF YOU NOTICE MOSES AND AARON HAS ALITTLE DISPUTE ABOUT WHAT THE SONS DID BUT THEY GOT THAT STRAIGHTED OUT AND GOD WAS GOOD WITH IT. WORKING THINGS OUT IS GOOD AND WE WILL GROW FROM ALL OF THIS. AS PROBLEMS ERUPT ALL OVER THE WORLD AREN'T YOU THANKFUL WE CAN GO TO BED SAFE TONIGHT.
ReplyDeleteGOOD NITE
You know, Mindy....I really struggle with pictures. It's hard to choose, I suppose everything is relative to artist's interpretation...I picked this one because of the fire! :) Not sure how accurate the depiction of the Tabernacle is, or it's proximity to the people! But, we're having fun considering, aren't we?
ReplyDeleteAgain, very thankful for God's grace and mercy!!! Mindy and I were having a discussion about all of these offerings and such earlier in the week. God is holy and He wants our best!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I enjoyed reading more of the "story" and having a break from more laws and instructions, I honestly struggle with the story of Aaron's sons' deaths. Not so much about the sons' deaths, but about Aaron not being able to grieve. My NIV study notes say that "Their death was tragic and at first seems harsh, but... The new community had to be made aware that it existed for God, not vice versa."
ReplyDeleteI really felt for Aaron when I read of Moses stating God's explanation of the sons' deaths and that "Aaron remained silent." He did not argue or express his grief. What could he say?
Aaron and his sons were ordained for a VERY important role among the Israelite community. They had to live up to the highest standard and God was not messing around. His rules were THE rules.
We are called to a very high standard as well. This is very convicting to me, but I am so thanksful for God's grace and pray that I don't take it for granted.