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Leviticus 10（ESV）
1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.
4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp.” 5 So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. 6 And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, “Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled. 7 And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses.
8 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 10 You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses.”
REFLECTION
- This passage describes the consequences of blaspheming sacred office.
- In both verses 9:24 and 10:2, “fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed…”. 9:24 continues: “…the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.” 10:2 continued this way:” …them (Aaron’s two sons), and they died before the LORD.” What a stark contrast.
- Here and there in OT – including v6 in this chapter – there are references to God being angry with His people. It is important to note that in Scripture God’s anger is always evidence of His concern, His involvement, His commitment to His people. God isn’t indifferent to us. He isn’t unconcerned about us. He isn’t judicially objective about us. He created us, saved us, and has plans for us. A painfully achieved, deeply experienced redemption has been enacted so that we can experience the love of God. And that love is a jealous love that tolerates neither rivals nor rebellion nor negligence.
- How do I respond to this “jealous and loving” God?
PRAYER
Re-acquaint myself with this God of jealousy and love. Put down all my puzzlements, disturbances, and uneasiness, and ask God to show me His everlasting love and restoring grace after judgment for my rebellion and unfaithfulness.
HYMN:
His Mercy Is More – youtu.be/I1GiZL60c80
