Burned by Fire and The Fear of the Lord

 It would seem that we have all become so casual in our worship of God. We bring in our food and coffee into the sanctuary and hope to be entertained and kept awake on Sunday morning so that “we get something out of it.”  I’m guessing most of us aren’t focused on The Fear of the Lord as we sit down.

In my daily Bible reading we read about Aaron’s sons who offered incense to God in an unauthorized way.  God didn’t appear and say, “that’s cool boys!  It’s all good!  I love y’all no matter what you do!”  Nope!  He instantly consumed them by fire.  “It’s a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God”

I’m thankful we have a new covenant through Jesus and that HE brings us peace with God.  This story reminds me of this fact. It’s also evident how much you would fear the Lord if you had witnessed these events in the days of Moses.  Also note that Aaron wasn’t allowed to mourn for his boys or he too would be killed by God.

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Leviticus 10

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:

“‘Among those who approach me
    I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
    I will be honored.’”

Aaron remained silent.

4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.

⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt^[a] and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. ⁷ Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.