9th.: Nadab & Abihu
Sometimes we think we know better than God.
Two men, Nadab and Abihu thought they knew better how to worship God.
“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” (Lev. 10:1-2).
Nadab and Abihu had wanted to offer what they wanted to. But that offering was not acceptable to God.
They should have remembered what God had told them,
“Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon …” (Exo. 30:9a).
Furthermore Nadab and Abihu had seen:
1) God in person (see Exo. 24:9-10a)
2) God’s might - as He destroyed the Egyptians
3) God’s provision - water from rocks, and the supernatural food called manna
Yet they cared for none of those things.
They offered what they wanted, instead of what God allowed.
Sometimes we can go by the old adage, “It is easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission”. In this case, it was not.
Let us show God the respect that he deserves,
and not make the same mistake as Nadab and Abihu.
“Or despise thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4)