Leviticus 10 - Who Might Fall?

This section of Scripture poses difficult issues at first glance. Here, two priests who are serving the Lord, looking like they’re doing the right thing are struck dead for their offering. Why would this happen? Is God unfair? Was this right? Is something missing?

Nadab and Abihu were the sons of Aaron, as verse one states. As was ordained by the Lord, fire was to be taken from the brazen altar (which the Lord had just lit on fire in chapter 9) and brought into the holy place. Even incense was a very valid part of this. Once sacrifices for sins had been offered up, then the priests were to enter the holy place and offer up sweet fragrances of perfume on the altar of incense (or golden altar). So the question really is ‘what was the issue?’ Ross, in his book Holiness to the Lord, sums up the chapter well by saying that this is really “about divine judgment, not on wicked people in the world but on disobedient priests within the household of faith” (p. 231).

Disobedience. This idea has come up before, time and again. In fact, Genesis 4 serves as a model for this, going back to the beginning of man (or quite nearly there anyway). Genesis 4:3-7 gives the account of this, with Cain bringing an offering before the Lord of the fruit of the ground (v 3) and Abel bringing the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions (v 4), indicating a sacrifice. Verse 5 tells us that the Lord had no regard for Cain and his offering. Sacrificial law had not been established, which is why Cain was not struck dead, yet the Lord made it clear to Cain that if he were to do well his countenance would be lifted (v 7) and basically, that the Lord would be pleased. The outcome of this story is well known by all, yet the point is that disobedience was at the heart of the sin and the consequences that ensued. A similar argument can be made for Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6. The ark was coming back to Jerusalem being transported in a way other than prescribed by the Lord (it was to be carried by the priests on their shoulders and it was on a cart pulled by oxen) and this man, Uzzah, who was not part of the Levitical priesthood reached out his hand to steady the ark when it almost fell off the ark and was struck dead! So many times this story was troublesome. It seemed so unfair that that should happen. Would it really have been better to let the ark fall? Yes! God was specific when He stated who was allowed to touch the ark and He meant it! Disobedience to His commands always exacts consequences! So it is with Nadab and Abihu. God laid out quite clearly guidelines which were to be followed in worship to Him and those were forsaken, and in a seemingly small way. Ross comments on the nature of the “strange fire” (v 1) in his book and indicates that the specific word used here would denote that their fire was taken from somewhere other than the altar or sacrifice, or the brazen altar. That was the only place that they were to go to get fire from and yet they brought their own. Their disobedience cost them their lives.

Without even getting into the rest of the passage there are several observations that could be made. One would be to go back and look at the context immediately surrounding this account. Leviticus 9 was Israel’s inaugural worship before the Lord; the priests had been consecrated, the offerings had been slain before the Lord and He was pleased and brought fire down from above and consumed that which had been laid upon the altar. Things couldn’t be more right. It was at this point that we are introduced to the episode of these two men. Right on the heels of spiritual victory and obedience sin was crouching at the door. It is impossible to ascertain the motive for sin. It could have been carelessness, or even deliberate. Maybe it was laziness, though that doesn’t seem likely because the tabernacle was not that big and the brazen altar was right there when a person walked in past the gate. The fire would have been burning on the altar and it would have been simple to take their firepans up to the altar to get the correct fire. It almost seems like it would have been more work to bring fire from another source, but again, nothing can be said for certain for the Scripture does not give insight concerning the matter.

One thing that is made clear in other Scripture is that these were men who were serving the Lord. They were part of an elite group of men called in for service to the Lord among the tens of thousands of Israelites encamped in the wilderness. Exodus 24:1 gives insight – “Then He said to Moses, ‘Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance.’” Going through this verse and another similar one (Exodus 24:9) several times before, the reason for the inclusion of Nadab and Abihu specifically mentioned by name had always been unclear. It seems however, and would make sense, that Moses was trying to make a point as He penned this portion of Scripture. These were not your run-of-the-mill guys who were just marching in on the tabernacle to worship God in their own way – they were already about the business of serving the Lord! In fact Exodus 24:9-11 states that they even saw the God of Israel (v 10) and yet “He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank” (v 11). This is amazing and unprecedented! All who looked upon God were to have died and here, this special group of people was able to be close to God and not perish, as anybody else would have.

An important lesson to learn is that even those preparing for the ministry, or already in the ministry can fall. Doing the right thing is essential but one should never take his position before God for granted for it only takes a second to fall. Spiritual highs are often followed by spiritual crashes. It seems that Satan will always try to strike when one is at his peak, coming off of a great spiritual euphoria. It is at those times that we tend to be off guard, prime striking for the enemy of God. None of us is immune. We must always be on guard so that we will be doing what is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of our most holy God. This is also a reminder as to the importance of the Word of God in our lives. In this Word, which we must cherish, is found all that is needed for life and godliness (cf. 2 Pet 1:3). In God’s precious Word is found the most holy character of the Lord Himself, and attributes; these are things which have not changed over the course of time, even though we live in a dispensation different from that of the Israelites! If God is to be pleased with our worship of Him then we must diligently mine the Scriptures to find out what He would have us to do, and then keep doing it! We cannot, yea, must not sit back after we think we have figured it out and go on about our business, for it seems that this is what caused the forfeiture of life on the part of Nadab and Abihu.

“Lord, You and mighty and good. Your Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. You say that a young man can cleanse his way and make it pure through taking heed to Your perfect Law. Cause us to have a deep and abiding love for You, cultivated through a passionate study of Your Word. May it always be on our lips and in our hearts so that You would not be far from us. Grant us the strength to walk in Your ways, yet not just the strength, please give the desire to do the same and make it consume us with every moment.”