“I will show My holiness
to those who are near Me,
and I will reveal My glory
before all the people.” (Lev. 10:3)

In today’s reading we see how God’ glory cannot be manipulated for our own benefit. Aaron, the leader of God’s chosen holy people (the Levites) was in charge of presenting the people’s offering to the Lord. It would have been an amazing, and somewhat terrifying ceremony, filled with blood and guts. As Aaron had the sacrifice prepared, following the rules handed down by God through Moses would have been very important. Aaron, understanding God’s holiness, would have followed every word of direction; and because of this “fire came from the LORD and consumed the burnt offering.” The result of this was that people fell down and worship the Lord. Aaron’s obedience brought about a supernatural act from the Lord that led to people glorifying God.

Enter Aaron’s sons. Seeing the power and awesomeness of this event, Nadab and Abihu try to become part of these event by capturing their own fire and presenting it to the Lord in an unauthorized manner. The result of which is that God brings down fire to consume them.

So, what can we take from this? I think there are two distinct messages that come from this passage. First, God is holy and his holiness cannot be altered or diminished. We must be mindful that we serve the a holy God, one that is always 100% holy and because of that he cannot be in the presence of unholiness. We must be wise to remember Samuel’s words “There is no one holy like the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:2).

Secondly, we must always check out motives when it comes to worshipping God. Nadab and Abihu we looking for personal gain or an association with God’s power that was to benefit them, and not to worship God. What are our motives when it comes to worship. Do we think that if we pray for something that God should answer it? Do we think if we go to church, our lives should be suffering free? If you think like that, then you are trying to manipulate God’s power like Aaron’s son’s. Let us remember that God will be glorified before all people because of what he has done, and not for what we have gotten him to do.

Let us pray today for a spirit of humility and true worship as we be our offerings (our lives) before God.