Who is Nadab and Abihu and why are they so worthy of mention in the midst of the story of the Israelites traveling from Egypt to Canaan?

• Exodus 6:23
  And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
• They were the two eldest sons of Aaron who was the right-hand man and brother to Moses.
• Aaron was also selected as the high priest to officiate in the sanctuary services.

What else do we understand about Nadab and Abihu?

• Exodus 24:1
  And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
• When God called Moses up to the mount to give him the ten commandments and also to establish His covenant with the Israelites and give them the sanctuary, He called not only Moses but also Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel to come apart to worship afar off.
• The Bible says that they actually saw God with Moses.
  • Exodus 24:9-11
    9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: 10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
• The fact that Nadab and Abihu were separated out from the congregation along with Aaron and the seventy elders of Israel showed that they occupied a pretty important position in the nation. In fact, from the way that they were listed it pretty much showed that they were second in command.

Last week we studied about the how God gave instructions to Moses to set up the sanctuary.

• There were offerings collected to build the sanctuary and its furniture.
• The specific offerings were detailed so if people sinned they could be made right with God again.
• The daily services and different feast days were established to point forward to the Messiah one day.
• The priests were dedicated.
• There were many things that were established and built in regards to the sanctuary.

The dedication of the priesthood was the final thing that would take place before the services of the sanctuary would begin. And it was a very rigorous and detailed ceremony.

• Leviticus 8:6
  And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
  • First, they would be washed with water.
• Leviticus 8:13
  And Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • Then after that they would be clothed with the clothes of the priests.
• Leviticus 8:14
  And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering.
  • Then they would all confess their sins on the head of a bull and kill it for a sin offering.
• Leviticus 8:18
  And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
  • They would lay their hands on the head of a ram and Moses would kill it.
  • This would be a burnt offering, an offering of dedication to the Lord.
• Leviticus 8:22
  And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
  • They would lay their hands on another ram and Moses would kill it also.
• Leviticus 8:24
  And he brought Aaron’s sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Then the blood of the ram would be collected by Moses and it would be used to consecrate Aaron and his sons.
• Leviticus 8:30
  And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.
  • Then the anointing oil would be sprinkled on them to sanctify them.
• Leviticus 8:33
  And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.
  • Then finally they would have to stay at the tabernacle for seven days to be totally dedicated to the sacred office.
• Just want to list this all out so you can see how rigorous this process was. How important it was to God. And how it was not something that He wanted us to easily forget.

In Leviticus 9, before the actual service could begin they would have to offer all the offerings. The sin offering, the burnt offering, the peace offering and the grain offering. And at the very end of it look what happened.

• Leviticus 9:22-24
  22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
• Fire would come down from God and consume all the offerings as a sign of approval that all that they had done was accepted.
• It was such a solemn service marked at the end by the presence of God.
• It was such a rigorous process that they were involved in just to perform the office of a priest.

However, immediately after this solemn ceremony in the next chapter, it seems that something of a different character would take place.

• Leviticus 10:1-2
  1 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. 2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
• Nadab and Abihu would take a censer each, put fire in it and burn incense. But they offered strange fire.
• Because of that they would be immediately killed by the Lord as He would consume them with fire.

What was this strange fire that they had offered?

• Leviticus 16:12-13
  12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not.
• Specific instructions were given in the burning of incense. The coals had to be taken from off the altar that was before the Lord. No other fire could be used.
• Obviously Nadab and Abihu had taken the fire from somewhere else which the Lord had instructed clearly not to do. They were not killed from doing something out of ignorance.

Immediately, Moses instructs Aaron to hold his peace.

• Leviticus 10:3
  Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
• Aaron was not allowed to grieve for his sons. They had clearly transgressed against the Lord.
• Leviticus 10:4-7
  4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. 5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said. 6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. 7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
• Why did Moses instruct Aaron not to grieve? Because he was not to show any sympathy of the sin that they had committed. Otherwise this would have led the whole congregation of Israel to murmur against God and His just judgment.
• If Aaron began to cry and weep for his sons who were justly cut down, it would have appeared that God was in the wrong and unjust in what He did. Maybe He was too extreme.
• But when Aaron held his peace, all the people that were watching would see that his sons had deserved their punishment.

Right after this God speaks directly to Aaron.

• Leviticus 10:8-11
  8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
• Why would God choose such a time to instruct Aaron and the whole priesthood that they were not to drink wine or any strong drink? Obviously that must have been the reason why his sons ended up burning strange fire on the altar of incense. They must have been intoxicated when coming into the presence of God and performing the ceremonies of the priesthood.
• As a result, they made a wrong decision whilst under the influence of strong drink which would lead them to do something that was punishable only by death.

There are some important lessons to consider when looking at this story of Nadab and Abihu.

First, there is no such thing as small sins. When God rained fire down from heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah, the reason why was obvious. It was a wicked city and not even five righteous people were found in it! People were committing sin openly. They were committing fornication, going after strange flesh (Jude 1:7). But Nadab and Abihu was wrong thinking that their disobedience is something small.

There have been many throughout history who have been punished for small acts of sin.

• Genesis 3:6
  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
  • Adam and Eve thrust out of the garden of Eden simply for eating a fruit and bringing sin upon the whole world.
• Genesis 19:26
  But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
  • Lot’s wife losing her life and turned into a pillar of salt simply because she looked back at Sodom.
• Numbers 20:11
  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
  • Moses was kept out of earthly Canaan because he struck the rock instead of talking to it.
• 2 Samuel 6:7
  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
  • Uzzah was struck dead by God because he touched the Ark of the Covenant.
• Acts 5:5
  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
  • Ananias and Sapphira was killed because they lied about how much they sold their land for.

We must be careful to follow every word of God. Let us not think that some parts of the Bible are less important than others. Let’s be sure to put everything on the same level, especially when it comes from God.

Secondly, the greater our position, the greater our influence, the more we will be held accountable.

• Nadab and Abihu and seen firsthand the holiness and greatness of God. They were right there in the mountain with Moses. They were right there when fire came down from God out of heaven and burnt up all the offerings that they had offered.
• They were second in command and their influence had a far reach over the whole nation of Israel.
• James 3:1
  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
  • Those in high positions, the masters, they will receive greater condemnation, or they will be judged with greater strictness.
• Luke 12:48
  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
• Our position matters. And the more that God has blessed us with and given to us, the more we will be held accountable.
• That includes our riches, our influence and our talents. In the parable of the talents, he that had five talents gained five more. Likewise he that had two had to gain two more. The one with one talent did not have the pressure to gain two or five more. He only needed to gain one more.
• More blessings, comes also more responsibility.

Thirdly, how we come before God, how we present ourselves, how we worship, it is important and it matters!

• How the priests were prepared just to serve was such an important process. There were specific steps that had to be followed. And yes, it mattered what type of fire was brought into the sanctuary. They must have known this otherwise they would not have been held accountable for it.
• Genesis 4:3-5
  3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
• Cain brought fruit and Abel brought a lamb.
• It mattered the type of offering. Even though they worshipped at the same altar, God only honored the offering of Abel.
• Something so small as the day of worship, yes it matters to God.
• Something so small as how we dress to church, yes it matters!
• We must worship God in Spirit and in truth!

Fourth, it is important what we choose to eat and drink. It can become a moral issue.

• Nadab and Abihu were consuming liquor which ultimately lead to them making a very foolish decision that would cost them their lives.
• Our health matters. Our diet matters.
• 1 Corinthians 9:25
  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
  • Temperance is so important. To know what is bad and abstaining from eating it and also taking in moderation that which is good.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
  • We must glorify God in our bodies as well. And so what we put into our bodies matters because that is where the Holy Spirit resides.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31
  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
  • We can give glory to God by what we eat and drink. And that means we can also glorify the devil by what we eat and drink too.
• 1 Corinthians 3:17
  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
• Let us not think that our diet, what we eat and drink, is such a small thing. It matters to God and it should matter to us as well.

Lastly, Godly parenting is so important. It was already obvious that Aaron was a weak and vacillating character. He could not stand firm in the face of adversity against the children of Israel when they asked for a different god to lead them. And we see it with his children as well.

• Had he taught them good and strict habits of self-control, and guided them in the right way, they would not have so fast turned from the path of integrity and duty.
• Had he not been neglectful of his own duty as a father, he would not have to grieve over their dead bodies. But just as he was as a leader, so he was a father. He did not discipline them and he himself lacked firmness for right.
• Sometimes we deceive ourselves thinking that our children are just going through a phase and that they will grow out of it. Most never do unless we step in as parents and guide them and lead them with a firm hand. We ought not to deceive ourselves in regards to this matter.
• Galatians 6:7
  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
• What we sow, that shall we also reap. Aaron clearly reaped the consequences of his own doing.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Today, let’s take clear warning from the stories that God has given to us in the Bible. Let’s not keep repeating the sins of the past but rather heed the warning and learn from their failed experiences and build on their victories.

Let us see sin in its clear light. It is not as trivial as we think it is.

Let us see the position of influence that God has given to us and be careful to rise up to the occasion to be a blessing.

Let us learn what true worship is and how to come into God’s presence.

Let us grow in what we eat and drink.

And let us learn through the experiences that God is giving us to prepare to be good and godly parents.

And finally, let us not be deceived – what we sow, we will also reap. May God help us all to sow goodness, godliness and holiness today.