STRANGE FIRE

Fire  “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on the fire and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.” Lev. 10:1. Strange Fire, that phrase caught my attention in the book of Leviticus, and again in Numbers.  Quite honestly, I think it would make a great movie or book title, don’t you? In the frightening solitude of a forest, a lost man scrabbled about in the murky darkness searching for signs of life.  In the distance a strange fire glowed.  He approached it.  Sorry, I got carried away in the scene. Now, back to Nadad and Abihu. As I’ve mentioned before, Leviticus set out in detail, unquestionable detail, rules for the people to follow.  These included everything from hygiene, to finances, relationships and the daily rituals of sacrifice and use of the tabernacle.  Did I mention they were uber-specific?  Well, they were! There was no room for self-expression. These two men were from the tribe of Levi, and they, along with all the men of the clan, were the only ones to serve God as priests. Their father Aaron, Moses’ brother was the high priest.  Being expressly ordained by God as priests, their sole obligation was to perform the ritual to God’s exacting specifications.  That doesn’t sound so difficult, does it?  All they had to do was follow the directions.  What went wrong that day?  What transformed the holy flame to strange fire? We aren’t told the details, and I’m OK with that.  What I believe God wants us to take away from this story is that there is God’s way, and there’s our way.  When we venture away from what brings honor to our Creator, no matter how small a detour we think it is, it’s going to slowly erode our relationship with him.  Back in those days, the people lived under the old covenant that God made with Moses and the nation of Israel.  Blood sacrifice was at the center of all worship, and the altar fires burned night and day.  Everything had to be perfect, and the animal had to be unblemished.  Only the shed blood of this flawless creature could atone for sin, but not forever.  Sacrifices went on and on, with no end in sight.  I find it fascinating that this system casts a light on the new covenant that we live under. The consummate sacrifice, the blood of the perfect lamb, Jesus. Nothing less is able to quench the sin debt we incurred.  No amount of good works, not church attendance, nor anything godly appearing, but man-made doctrines will satisfy our outstanding debt. Now, back to Nadab and his brother.  Maybe they came in to work a bit hungover that day. Maybe they decided to vary from the format a scooch, add their own flare, so to speak. Bad idea.  “But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.” Numbers 3:4. It was a hard lesson to learn, for those two, and for the nation. God demanded perfection, and had set it out precisely.  Anything less wouldn’t get the job done, so they were fired, pardon the pun, as they were cremated where they stood, in front of the strange fire.  My take away from this tale is this; I’m joyful to live under the new covenant! Seriously, the point is when we repent of our sins, and humbly allow Christ to guide our lives, we are forgiven by grace and his perfect, shed blood was the ultimate deal-sealer.  However, we have to be ever vigilant that we don’t get drawn into the warmth of Strange Fires, things that sound Godly, but aren’t.  Those fires can be oh so appealing, but when they add or take away from God’s word stay back, or you will get burned. Don’t forget that St. Peter was warming his hands in one, and there denied Jesus. Instead, be the flame that draws the lost to the God’s light. God will supply always the fuel, when we ask!! “I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49. “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6