Strange Fire
Lev. 10:2-3
Fire is very useful to man. It is used for cooking, heating and light. Abraham asked Sarah to bake cakes on the fire for their heavenly guests. The Israelites roasted a lamb on the fire on the night of their departure from Egypt. As the disciples met Jesus by the sea of Galilee He had kindled a fire and had a fish on it. Jesus also spoke a parable of a woman who lighted a lamp to seek the lost coin.
Fire is also used to destroy. It is used to destroy people and property. Joshua with the Israelites burned the city of Jericho with fire. Achan and his belongings were burned with fire. King Nebuchadnezzar tried to bum the three Hebrew young men, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego.
Fire is also used by God to indicate His presence. As Abraham prepared his sacrificial animals, fire from the Lord passed between the pieces. (Gen. 15:17). Moses met the Lord in a burning bush. . There was also fire at Mount Sinai as the Lord spoke the law to the people of Israel. Elijah called fire from heaven to destroy the companies of soldiers. He was also taken to Heaven in a chariot of fire.
Fire is used by God to destroy the sinners. Jesus warned the people about the fife that never shall be quenched. (Mark 9:43). He also said that, “Every tree that does not produce fruit will be cast to the fire”. The Lord destroyed the cities of Sodom arid Gomorrah by fife and brimstone.
It was divine fire from God that was used in the sanctuary and on the altar of sacrifice.
Sister White made many references to a fire. “There is a class of people who are always ready to go off on some tangent, who want to catch up something strange and wonderful and new; but God desires us all to move calmly, considerately, ch06sing our words in harmony with the sold truth for this time. The truth should be presented to the mind as free as possible from that which is emotional, while still bearing the intensity and solemnity befitting its character. We must guard against encouraging extremists, those who would be either in the fire or in the water.” Bv.611.
“While prayer was offered for me,. .. Something that seemed to me like a ball of fire struck me right over the heart.” LS 71.
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron and the nephews of Moses were in a high position in Israel. They had many advantages and privileges; they had heard the voice of God and been with Moses and Aaron on the mount of God. They had been dedicated to the service and sprinkled with sacrificial blood, and educated for the sacred service. All this made their sin greater. ill the hour of worship as the prayers and praise of the people ascended to God, Nadab and Abihu being intoxicated took their censers and burned incense in them. But they transgressed God’s commandment by using strange fire instead of the fire which God had kindled. Because of this sin, fire came out of the Lord and slew them in sight of the people.
Few months earlier the people had witnessed the power of God in giving the law at Sinai. After they had built a tabernacle and witnessed the fire coming down from God to the altar of sacrifice. Now their joy turned to sorrow as the sons of Aaron were dead.
The warning had been given to the priests. “And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.” Ex. 19:22. The sons of Aaron neglected to sanctify themselves.
Aaron and his two other sons were not to show grief or sorrow for Nadab and Abihu. Aaron was silent and continued his priestly office without complaining. People who saw Aaron’s composure were calmed in their fears and their faith was restored in God.
When the Roman army entered into Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D., the priests were conducting the service while the temple was burning. They did not panic nor run out from the fire.
Royalty have learned the same lesson. A bomb may explode near the royal carriage, but the king is not supposed to notice it. He must retain his composure and permit nothing to ruffle him.
Jesus’ answer to certain would-be disciples who chose to make their personal matters a priority may seem hard and unfeeling.
“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee: but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-62.
Few duties are considered more urgent than caring for one’s parents. Yet even these duties must not stand in the way of doing the work of God. The work must go on.
The sin of Nadab and Abihu was deliberately ignoring God’s commandments. The common fire they brought to the temple looked the same as the holy fire that God had kindled to the people, but God knew the difference.
The same way the people cannot see the difference between the seventh day of the week and the first day of the week. Yet the difference is between life and death.
When someone was punished for his sins, people mourned for the punishment and not for the sins that had been committed. The sympathizers of those who had sinned were considered equally guilty with the sinner.
When God rebukes and reproves the erring ones through His messengers, many sympathize with the ones that have been rebuked; not realizing that God rebukes and chastens the ones that He loves. (Rev. 3: 19). This constitutes rebellion against God. The blood of (be erring ones will be found in their garments.
The case of Aaron’s sons is. written for us to learn from it how God regards disobedience. As we are preparing for the second coming of Jesus, we must control our appetite “that we would not sin as Nadab and Abihu. Depraved appetite destroys the fine feelings of soul and affects the reasoning powers of the mind,. and the holy things lose their sacredness. Satan rejoices in this.
The sons of Aaron represent those who willfully transgress God’s commandments; especially the Sabbath commandment. They put no difference between common and holy things. Isaiah 8:20 tells us, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Man cannot obey or disobey the Lord without consequences.
Almost all the professed Christians disobey God by keeping the first day of the week instead of the seventh. The sin of these Christians is not any less than the sin of Nadab and Abihu. Their final punishment will be the same as Aaron’s sons, which is death. They insult God by changing the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week.
They are bringing to their service strange fire which God has not kindled.
God does not change. What He has spoken stands fast forever
This is a terrible deception. This is an offense to God.
We must stand for the truth, tell people their errors. Let nothing stand in the way of doing God’s work. The work must go on. We must beware of strange fifes.
AMEN.