The MIGHTY WARRIOR Who Saves

Journal Entry #14

Verse of the Day
"'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
[Revelation 21:4 NIV]

Leviticus 10:1-2 reads,

"Aaron's sons Nadab 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."

i. This was a misuse of special incense. This incense was regarded as holy for the LORD (Exodus 30:35-37). It wasn't to be used in someone's experiment with God.

ii. Profane fire was a fire not kindled from the altar of burnt offering; it was fire not associated with the atoning and redeeming work of sacrifice. It was easy to think, "fire is fire; as long as it burns, it's ok." In the case of Nadab and Abihu, that was literally a deadly mistake.

iii. The fire on the altar of burnt offering was sacred because it was kindled by God Himself (Leviticus 9:24). Nadab and Abihu offered a fire of their own making. Perhaps they thought that all fire was the same, and an undiscerning person may have agreed with them. But all fire isn't the same and there is a huge difference between the fire kindled by God and a fire conjured up by man.

iv. "Our censers are often flaming with 'strange fire.' How much so-called Christian worship glows with self-will or with partisan zeal! When we seek to worship God for what we can get, when we rush into His presence with hot, eager desires which we have not subordinated to His will, we are burning 'strange fire which He has not commanded.'" (Maclaren)

-Enduringword.com

When I first read this part of the passage, I was confused as to why Nadab and Abihu died for what they did. I didn't get what was wrong with their unauthorized fire. So, I researched.

Nadab and Abihu disobeyed the Lord's commands by kindling fire for the Lord in a way that was not condoned. Like the Bible commentary mentioned, One may believe that it would be fine to do something their own way. As long as they make it to their destination, the way they do it doesn't matter, right? 

God may tell us to do something one way, but we do it a different way, thinking that we have it all figured out. But God is omnipotent—all knowing— and we are not. He knows the way we should go. This is why we have to trust in God's plan for us.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." [Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬]

God knows how our lives will play out, down to the last detail and step. He knows, which is why His instruction can be trusted. Be reassured that whatever God has in store for you is good, and His intentions are good. You may not know why God wants you to do something a certain way for now. Despite this, trust in Him and allow Him to lead you to take the steps that are needed to get you where God wants you to be.

"Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."" [John‬ ‭13‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬]

Thank you for reading! Today's daily verse happens to be my favorite Bible verse. I love its reassurance <3

"The Lord bless you and keep you;  the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;  the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." [Numbers 6:24-26 NIV]

Sources:

Leviticus‬ ‭10‬, Old Testament, the Bible (‭New International Version)

Numbers 6, Old Testament, the Bible (New International Version)

John 13, New Testament, the Bible (New International Version)

Revelation 21, New Testament, the Bible (New International Version)

Enduring Word Bible Commentary. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/leviticus-10/