Three Fires (2) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, took each of them his censer, and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and presented strange fire before Jehovah, which He had not commanded them.
Leviticus 10:1

Three Fires (2)
The tabernacle service had been established. Details of how to approach with the appropriate sacrifices had been given by God. And the priests, Aaron's sons, were consecrated, God having given clear instructions for them to follow. Whatever happened now? The sad history of man's failure repeats itself again and again.

Nadab and Abihu were as well instructed as were their brothers. Yet they slighted the clear instructions God had given. They probably said, "It really does not matter where we get the fire—it's all the same. As long as we have the censers and have the incense, what difference does it make? After all, this is not a fundamental issue. God did not specify exactly which fire to use."

Such reasoning is very common today. It originates from the unbelief of our hearts. Satan, our arch-enemy, has successfully used this tactic for many generations. Ever since the Garden of Eden, where he approached Eve with the question, "Hath God said?" this has been his method. By such questions Satan is suggesting that God is withholding something that's worth having, and is thereby questioning God's goodness. How subtle is our foe and how deceitful our hearts. To think that we would even dare to introduce our own thoughts as to how we can serve God acceptably!

Strange fire in the presence of the Lord is any thought or action which does not flow from communion with the mind of the Lord as it is revealed to us in His Word. Obedience and dependence upon Him are the only safeguards that will keep our hearts and minds in sweet communion with Himself.

Jacob Redekop