"I just assumed you would like it"

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD

Lev 10:1,2

This is one of the most impacting statements in the Old Testament, where you have evidently people whom God chose working in the Tabernacle that He commanded them to build, then striking them dead in the midst of it.  Kind of reminds you of that same feeling you got when you sassed your parents and you knew what was coming next.   So let's dig a little deeper into this story to see more of the details behind it, and to see if we can see why God reacted so strongly to what they had done.

Nadab and Abihu, were the two eldest sons of Aaron the High Priest (Ex.24:9-11), and the nephews of Moses himself. In Ex.28-29 we see where Aaron and his sons were chosen to be the "priestly" tribe, meaning that their job was the are of the Tabernacle and implementation what God had specified should go on within its structure. Exodus and Leviticus as books are devoted to describing all of the articles (down to the underwear) that the priests were to wear, all of the implements to be built and used, and all of the acts to go on within it. Leviticus 6:12 tells us that the fire on the altar of burnt offering was not allowed to go out, because the first fire that would come upon the altar and its sacrifice would come from God Himself (9:24). As a result, with the fire kept burning thereafter, all of the offerings made thereon, would be "hallowed" with fire that came from God. And, God was VERY specific, to the point that there were things they were told to do and if they did not do it the way it was prescribed by God - they would die!  This then brings us to our story in Leviticus 9 and 10, where we see Nadab and Abihu going about their duties, but in 10:1-3 we have the incident of what is called "strange fire." Let's take a closer look:

• Strange Fire - this term is translated differently in various versions. The older versions use the word strange, the newer versions use the term unauthorized.  What this tells us is that the word's definition is somewhat dependent on the context in which it is used. 
• Fire to be used within the Tabernacle structure for the purposes of either sacrifice or upon the Altar of Incense, was to come from the altar of Burnt Offering. 
• The fact that the fire of the first offering upon the altar would come from God Himself (see above) and was to be kept continually maintained and now allowed to go out from that fire, sanctified and made holy the fire and its contents.
• Fire taken from another source, not obtained from the fire from God as described above, would have been considered profane, unholy, or as the versions put it, "unauthorized."
• To put anything on the fire (i.e. add to it) other than what God said should be done with that fire,  would make it profane, unholy, or "unauthorized."
• The use of such "unauthorized" fire by Nadab and Abihu were punished with death by fire from God.(Lev.10:1-2; Num.3:4; 26:61) because what God had prescribed they did not heed or do. There is a comment in the passage that is overlooked - "and laid incense upon it."  Where did they get that instruction?  God had given them clear instructions on what and how to do on every facet of worship and work within the Tabernacle, yet, there is no instruction for what they do here. And what they did made what was holy - unholy.  Is what God said that important?

Why then is this such a big deal? Why doesn't God just reprimand them instead of striking them dead? Isn't God being harsh and domineering here?  These are all of the questions that go through our minds, because frankly we all find ourselves in this situation and would hope that God wouldn't do this to us. Yet, compare this story with Romans 1 where we are told that people do this sort of thing all the time. We want to do it our way instead of God's way. We presume that God wouldn't mind. The very end of the Bible in the Revelation, we are told not to add to or take away from what God has said.  Why?  This story tells us why. 

Let's put this another way. If your car had been in an accident and you took it to be repaired - you tell the people doing the work to paint it back like it was. To match the colors to the original blue and restore the car to its original condition. But when you come to get the car back...all of the car except the damaged part is the original color. That part was painted blue with rainbow stripes. You're appalled and ask why. The painter says, "Well, I just thought it would look better." You ask, "Who told you to do that?"  The painter says, "No one, I just assumed you would like it."  Now, what do you think is the rest of that story?

The next question is obvious. What will we tell God, when He comes back?

Jim