What's going on here? Nadab and Abihu were the two older sons of Aaron. They had been with Moses and Aaron and the 70 elders on Mt. Sinai in Ex. 24.
Now – they offer strange fire before the LORD – and fire comes out from the LORD and consumed them.
We have seen that Aaron failed catastrophically in making a golden calf. Yet God forgives that sin – and allows Aaron to become High Priest. But Nadab and Abihu offer "strange fire" and are burnt to a crisp on the spot!
Whatever happened to getting a "second chance"? Whatever happened to "the LORD is merciful and gracious"?!
What we are seeing is the fact that yes, the LORD is merciful and gracious – but the LORD is also holy.
And these two things are not opposed to each other! Moses has been laying out clearly the importance of doing what God says. When the priests are bringing God's people into the holy place – they themselves need to be holy.
When God says "do it this way" – don't do it some other way!!
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