Take The Bible Seriously - Nadab And Abihu

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. Leviticus 10:1-2

With tears in his eyes and a trembling voice, the elderly pastor of a small urban church asked his congregants, “When are you people going to get it through your thick heads that God wants to bless you?” He knew that many in his flock had adopted a carefree approach to their walk with Christ, and he longed for them to know God’s best.

This dear man understood something that many of us miss today: God didn’t give us the Bible in order to control us or hold us back; he gave us the laws and guidelines that will help us to achieve God’s best in our lives. It’s a lesson that Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu never understood.

God had called these young men to be priests for the ancient Hebrew nation. As priests, they were given many significant and solemn responsibilities. There was very little wiggle room in the regulations governing the Tabernacle and the sacrifices. Sadly, Nadab and Abihu wiggled too much. They treated God’s commands casually and carelessly, and it cost them everything.

Why did the two brothers act in this way? The Bible doesn’t say. It does make it clear that their failure to take God’s Word seriously cost them the blessings that God wants to generously give to everyone who will listen to him and obey his Word. Nadab and Abihu couldn’t get it through their thick heads that God wanted more than anything to bless them.

How do you regard the Word of God? Is it a code of conduct? A book of restrictive rules? Or is it a road map to blessing, honor, and joy?

God has given you his written Word as an instruction manual to help you become the man of God, husband, father, worker, and friend he calls you to be. When you take his Word seriously, you will receive the blessings that God reserves for those who humbly hear and obey him.