Fear God!

Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron

Numbers 3:4)

In the past two days, we’ve seen God’s preparation of his people for battle, first he numbered them in chapter 1 and then put himself at the center of their lives in chapter 2 

In Numbers 3:1-4, we encounter another ingredient of preparation for battle, it is called the fear of God. This was exemplified by the sobering account of Nadab and Abihu, the two eldest sons of Aaron, who were struck down by the Lord for offering unauthorized fire before Him. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of reverence and obedience before the Lord.

Nadab and Abihu held positions of great honor and responsibility as ranking priests, yet their actions demonstrated a lack of reverence and regard for the holiness of God. They offered profane fire before the Lord, disregarding His specific instructions for worship. As a result, they faced swift and severe consequences for their disobedience.

The repetition of this event in both Leviticus and Numbers underscores the gravity of the lesson it teaches. God did not want this incident forgotten or its lessons neglected. It serves as a reminder that we cannot afford to treat God with contempt or take His mercy and patience for granted.

The death of Nadab and Abihu is equally a challenge to us today to examine our own hearts and attitudes toward God. Do we approach Him with reverence and awe, recognizing His holiness and authority? Or do we, like Nadab and Abihu, become complacent or careless in our worship and obedience to him? What was the last instruction God gave you? Did you carry it out precisely as the Lord commanded it? If not, you might just be walking the path of Nadab and Abihu.

As followers of Christ, we must fear the Lord in the way we live our lives daily. This fear is not a paralyzing dread but a reverent awe and respect for His holiness and majesty. It compels us to align our thoughts, words, and actions with His will, knowing that He is worthy of all honor and obedience.

So, as we reflect on this sad tale of Nadab and Abihu, let us cultivate a heart of reverence before the Lord and approach Him with humility and obedience, recognizing His sovereignty and holiness in all things. And may we never forget the consequences of treating God with contempt, but instead walk in reverence and obedience all the days of our lives.

PRAYER