DUMB WAYS TO DIE

#2: Nadab And Abihu – Flambeed For False Fire

Dumb Ways To Die Kiev fisherman

meets shocking demise.

Nevada resident and a 15ft Burmese Python.

Not Following Instructions?

Monks making copies of copies.

Programmer and a bottle of shampoo.

The Need To Follow Instructions  Precision demanded in

the sacrificial system. Exod. 39:32 -- Thus all

the work of the [a]tabernacle of the tent of meeting was completed; and the sons of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did.

Exodus 39:42-43

So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses. And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the Lord had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.

Exodus 40:16

Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

God was commanding every detail.

Every detail was meticulously being met.

God Specifically Skilled Workers

Exodus 36:1 – “Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

Priests Consecrated For Service

Leviticus 8:6-12, etc. Bathed with water Properly clothed Ephod, Urim and Thummim

put on Turban on head Metal plate “holy to the Lord”

as a holy crown on his head Anointing oil applied

Standing In The Lord’s Presence

Exodus 28:33-35 – (the priestly garment – “You shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material, all around on its hem, and bells of gold between them all around…and its tinkling shall be heard when he enters and leaves the holy place before the Lord, so that he will not die.”

SERIOUS, DEADLY BUSINESS

The Sins Of Nadab And Abihu

Leviticus 9:23-24 – “Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering….”

Forgetting The Presence Of The Lord

Leviticus 10:1-2 -- Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord

Forgetting The Lord’s Holiness

Leviticus 10:3 – Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored.’”

Improper Demeanor Before God

Vs. 7-8 – “You shall not even go out from the doorway of the tent of meeting, or you will die; for the Lord’s anointing oil is upon you.” So they did according to the word of Moses.

Separating The Holy And Profane

Vs. 9-10 – “Do not drink wine or strong drink…when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die…and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean.”

The Kindness and Severity of God

Romans 11:22 -- Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

What Happened To The Goat?

Leviticus 10:16-18 Moses can’t find the goat of the sin

offering. It was burned up, but should have been

eaten. Moses angry with remaining two sons of

Aaron. Most Holy – should have been eaten to

bear away the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord.

Symbolism of the sin offering

Worshiper confessed sins upon its head.

Worshiper slit its throat. Parts were burned up in

smoke to the Lord. Blood was sprinkled on

the altar. Priests ate parts of the

sacrifice as a holy meal. Atonement central.

Why Did God NOT Kill The Sons?

Vs. 19 – But Aaron spoke to Moses, “Behold, this very day they presented their sin offering and their burnt offerings before the Lord. When things like these happened to me, if I had eaten a sin offering today, would it have been good in the sight of the Lord?”

Lessons In Holiness?

Do we please God when… Our hearts and minds are

far away from the worship? We care more about

appearances than we care about substance or meaning?

We stand before God with no awe or fear or reverence?