Offering Strange Fire

Leviticus 10:1-11

INTRODUCTION:  The law speaks swiftly and with great force.  Nadab and Abihu thought that the details were unimportant—as long as they got the general idea.  They were wrong.  God expects obedience in His children.  We can be thankful that we live in the age of grace.  However, God still expects obedience.  Now, we serve because of love and not because of fear.  Yet, we should still serve Him with all our heart.

I.          THE SIN OF NADAB AND ABIHU (10:1-2)

     A.         They Offered Strange Fire Before the Lord (v.1)

          1.         Nadab and Abihu

               a.         The elder sons of Aaron (Ex.6:23)

               b.         Next in line behind Aaron (Ex.24:1, 9)

          2.         The identity of the strange fire

               a.         God lit the fire on the brazen altar (Lev.9:24)

               b.         This fire was to be kept burning (Lev.6:13)

               c.         The offerings of incense were to be lit from the fire of the altar.  That way, it was still the fire of God.

                    (1)        On the Day of Atonement (Lev.16:12)

                    (2)        In the matter of Korah (Num.16:46)

               d.         The priests were warned against using strange incense (Ex.30:7-9); everything was to be done as commanded.

               e.            Evidently, Nadab and Abihu decided that they could pick up fire from another source and no one would know the difference

     B.         Fire From the Lord Devoured Them (v.2)

          1.         Fire went out from the Lord

               a.         The fire does not come from heaven but from before the Lord.  This phrase refers to the mercy seat in the holiest of all (Lev.16:1-2, 13) because that is where the Lord meets with the high priest (Ex.25:21-22; 30:6)

               b.            Compare the similar destruction of the followers of Korah (Num.16:35)

          2.         The fire devoured them and they died

II.            CONCERNING THOSE WHO APPROACH GOD (10:3-11)

     A          They Must be Sanctified Before the Lord (v.3)

          1.         God must be sanctified in those who come before Him (Lev.21:1, 6. 8)

          2.         God must be glorified before His people

     B.         The Disposal of the Bodies (v.4-5)

          1.         By the cousins of Aaron (v.4)

          2.         Carried out of the camp in their coats (v.5)

     C.         To Aaron and his Surviving Sons (v.6-9)

          1.         Do not uncover your heads or rend your clothes (v.6)

          2.         Let your brethren do the mourning for the dead (v.6)

         3.         Go not out from the door of the tabernacle (v.7)

          4.         Drink no wine or strong drink when you enter the tabernacle (v.8-9); this statement makes it look as though Nadab and Abihu were drunk when they offered the strange fire

     D.         Make a Difference Between Holy and Unholy (v.10-11)

          1.            Practiced by the priests (v.10)

          2.         Taught to the people (v.11; 2Chr.15:3)

III.            PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE STORY

     A.         The Work of God Must be Accomplished by the Power of God (Zech.4:6; Jn.15:5; 1Cor.3:16)

     B.         God has Provided Fire from Heaven to Empower Us  (2Cor.9:8; Phil.4:13; Eph.3:16, 20-21; 1:19; Col.1:11)

     C.         God Opposes Those Who Use Strange Fire (1Tim.4:1-2; 1Jn.4:1)

     D.         The Power of God Available to us is Threefold:

          1.         The throne of God in prayer (Heb.4:16; Jas.5:16)

          2.         The word of God (Heb.4:12; Isa.55:10-11)

          3.         The Spirit of God (Rom.8:9-16)

  Send Page To a Friend

Copyright © 2002 Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee