As Peter proclaimed in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Much of the first five books of the Bible is about separating the common from the uncommon and establishing a holy nation of priests. It was about knowing God and learning to do his will and keep his precepts unto salvation. In this current time that we live, we are to be that royal priesthood in Christ. That means keeping his commandments as he prescribes, not doing what we think is right in our own eyes. This is important now more than ever. I am reminded of the story about offering strange fire.
There are three kinds of fire in the episode of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu: 1) the fire of the LORD that consumes the sacrifice properly offered by Aaron (Leviticus 9:24), 2) the “unauthorized fire” offered by Aaron’s two sons (Leviticus 10:1), and 3) the “fire that came from the presence of the LORD and consumed them…(Leviticus 10:2).” Nadab and Abihu’s fire was “strange fire,” of their own making, not God’s fire. There are many commentaries on why this occurred, but the most simple direct explanation is found in the words of Leviticus 10:1 itself—“But Nadab and Abihu sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, something he had not ordered them to do.” By not adhering to the LORD’s instructions and entering on their own terms, they disregarded God’s holiness.
God was first identified as a “consuming fire” in Deuteronomy 4:24, when Moses warned the Israelites to worship God with reverence and awe, and Hebrews 12:29 reiterates that thought, “Therefore since we have received an unshakable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. For indeed, our God is a consuming fire!” God’s holiness is the reason for His all-consuming fire, and that is the part of His nature that judged Nadab and Abihu. The other side of that fire is God’s love, His passion for us is all consuming, as stated in Song of Solomon 8:6, “Set me like a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for Love is strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame.” This is a picture of God’s fierce love.
In His love, God provided for our true holiness by sending His son Jesus to die on the cross to atone for the sins of all who trust in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). We need not fear the consuming fire of God’s wrath if we are covered by the blood of the Lamb. As a chosen people and a royal priesthood, however, we are held to a higher standard of holiness, which implies a harsher judgement for sin. As in 1 Corinthians 10:11,12, “Now these things were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” This should be a warning to those who speak casually of God from the pulpit, or kitchen table! Let us be mindful of the lesson of strange fire and set ourselves apart, holy, and in reverence of the all-consuming fire of the LORD our God.
