Leviticus 10 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the L_rd, which He had not commanded them to do. Then flames leaped from the L_rd’s presence and burned them to death before the L_rd. So Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the L_rd meant when He said: “I will show My holiness to those who are near me, and I will reveal My glory before all the people.’ But Aaron kept silent.” Leviticus 10:1- 3

“Do not boast to yourself of tomorrow, for you never know what circumstances a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1

That day promised to be the happiest in Aaron’s life. As Aaron, the High Priest, was moving about in his magnificent robes and performing the solemn duties of his exalted office, how elated he must have been! Yet soon his two sons were lying dead at his feet.

Two summers ago, my son Wyatt and I went surfing in Newport Beach, CA. We had tagged-along on the Harvest Christian School’s 6th grade beach trip. There were lots of us! I recall there were over 60 kids, plus several adult/parent chaperones. Next to us, camped-out on the beach was an African family. They were missionaries to the US, from Kenya, and because they were also believers in Yeshua, we hung out with them all day. Our kids played on the beach with their kids. One in Messiah.

Towards the end of the day, there was a commotion. Everyone was cleared from the water. Someone was in trouble. I ran towards the ocean, and arrived at the shoreline just as two lifeguards were dragging the African father onto the beach. After a frantic fight for the man’s life, it became obvious that he could not be revived. One moment, he was playing on the beach with his family and our Harvest students. The next moment, he was lying on that same beach, lifeless. Life can change abruptly for us all.

This was Aaron’s experience. What began as Aaron’s greatest day, ended tragically. On the very day of the Sanctuary’s consecration, Aaron’s sons traded G_d’s calling for a momentary whim. Scripture does not indicate whether Nadab & Abihu consulted Moses or Aaron, so some scholars believe the boys disregarded their elders, out of jealousy. They didn’t trust that G_d was speaking to Israel directly through Moses. Perhaps, they asked themselves, “When will these men die? How long must we wait to lead the congregation on our terms?” Who knows? The end came so quickly that they could not testify as to their motives.

One thing is certain, it was impious ambition that led them to depart from G_d’s Word and commit an unhallowed action. This departure called-down terrible retribution in a lightning flash!

It is incumbent upon us to seek G_d’s Word and not turn from it, to the right or the left. That is, we should take Scripture as it is, and not live our lives more conservatively or liberal that the L_rd requires.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Sunday, April 20, 2014