What's the Worst that Could Happen?
What’s the Worst that could Happen?
Leviticus 10
On Saturday June 24, 1899, four Denver journalists from four different Denver newspapers met at the train station hoping to meet a visiting celebrity in order to write an article for each one of their papers on an unusually slow day for news. They all could not find anything noteworthy or interesting to grab the headlines so they decided to make up a story. It had to be somewhat believable and it had to be interesting enough to sell papers. And if all four of the newspapers ran the story on the same day, who would deny it? What was the worst that could happen?
After drinking together in a local bar, they decided on focusing on the Great Wall of China which would take weeks or months to be challenged. They reported that China was talking to US engineers to dismantle the beloved Wall to open up the economy to Western countries. Sensational headlines filled all the papers the next day, on Sunday June 25, 1899, “GREAT WALL OF CHINA DOOMED! PEKING SEEKS WORLD TRADE!” Their plan worked. Their editors were happy, papers were sold, and everyone believed the lie. The story went ‘viral’ and was picked up by papers on the East Coast and Europe and eventually made it to China. What was the worst that could happen?
In the fall of 1899, a secret society, known as the Boxers, was growing suspicious of western influence and foreigners being in China. The Boxers believed the article and then used it to spark a rebellion against all foreigners. The Boxer Rebellion formally began in November of 1899 and led to as many as 100,000 deaths, including a number of Christian foreign missionaries. A fabricated story written by four drinking journalists in Denver Colorado led to the deaths of thousands. What was the worst that could happen? Leviticus 10:1
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.
What was the worst that could happen?
Sin is blinding. We did not often think of its impact. We minimize its effect. The tragic story of Nadab and Abihu, like the story that sparked the Boxer Rebellion, is a reminder to all of the real danger of doing what the Lord has not commanded. We will walk through this passage in five movements considering one question for each section.
The Death of the Sons: Do you fear the Lord? (Leviticus 10:1-2)
The end of Leviticus 9 is the resolution and the climax of the tension created at the of Exodus 40. Leviticus 9:23–24,
And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
God’s glory fills the temple and the people worship. It is a glorious scene, but the joy does not last long. For the Lord is among his people and demands his people rightly worship him. Leviticus 10:1,
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.
Over the last two chapters, we have heard the refrain, “And they did as Moses commanded.” The “not” in verse 1 would have stood out. There is a sharp break from the previous chapters. And notice the similarities of the language of Leviticus 9:24 and 10:2, Leviticus 9:24,
“And the fire came out before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering.”
Leviticus 10:2,
And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
The presence of the Lord is a delight to those who fear him and a danger to those who do not. Nadab and Abihu did not fear the Lord so they died. Do you fear the Lord?
As the Lord said to Adam and Eve, “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Nadab and Abihu did not do as the Lord commanded, so they died. In Leviticus 8-9, we see God creating a new place for his people, like Genesis 1-2, now we see in Leviticus 10, seeing the sin of disobedience doing what God commanded them not to do.
What was their sin? What was the unauthorized fire? We cannot be certain, but I agree with Michael Morales’s argument that Nadab and Abihu were trying to enter the Holy of Holies because of the similarities to Leviticus 16 and the Day of Atonement. He gives 4 reasons. First, Nadab and Abihu use censers like Aaron does (Lev. 16:12-13). Second, the beginning of the Day of Atonement ritual begins this way, Leviticus 16:1,
The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died,
Moses connects chapter 10 with chapter 16. God is reminding Aaron not to presume anything before entering the presence of God lest he die. Third, Leviticus 16 describes the incident of Leviticus 10, “when they drew near before the Lord and died,” which fits the idea of entering the Holy of Holies. Lastly, Leviticus 10 creates a new tension which Moses will address in the next 5 chapters of what is clean and unclean.
Therefore, the deaths of Nadab and Abihu resulted in them not fearing the Lord and presuming they could enter God’s presence in a way he did not command. They did not fear the Lord. Do you?
Any time we see the impact of sin, we must receive it as a warning. Sin must be taken seriously for the consequences of sin are serious. Nadab and Abihu died and were taken outside the camp seen in verse 4-5. Being taken outside the camp is a sign of uncleanness and rejection. Jesus warns his followers that if they do as the Lord does not command and are workers of sin, they too will be put outside the camp, outside the presence of God, where there is death, the weeping and gnashing of teeth. In Luke 13, someone asked Jesus who will be saved, and Jesus responds to the one who does not do as the Lord commanded, Luke 13:27–28,
But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
If you live in sin, and do not do as the Lord commands, do not presume you will enter God’s presence. If you are a worker of evil, and try to approach the Lord on your terms and not His, you too will be cast out. When you are tempted to live in sin, remember to ask, “What is the worst that could happen if you don’t fear the Lord? And know you could die and be taken outside of God’s presence in Hell. Do you fear the Lord?
The Response to Sin and Death: Are you on the Lord’s side? (Leviticus 10:3-7)
Imagine the emotion of the scene, Aaron sees his sons sin against God and sees his sons consumed with the Lord’s fire. The Lord knows what is happening in Aaron’s heart so he speaks directly to him. Leviticus 10:3,
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.
The Lord reminds Aaron of what he has spoken. Those who are near him will be holy and he will be glorified. And then it says, Aaron held his peace. Aaron agreed with God’s actions against his sons. Aaron agreed with God’s actions against sin. Jim Hamilton makes the point that how we respond to God’s justice reveals whose side we are on. It would have been natural for Aaron to side with his sons and see God’s judgment as too harsh. Aaron held his peace, because he knew God was right. God has to punish sin even when the sin is done by our own sons and daughters. God must be first in our hearts.
After addressing Aaron, he then addresses the remaining sons and tells everyone how they must respond. He first has to remove the dead so the sanctuary space would not be defiled. Leviticus 10:4–7,
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp.” So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, “Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the LORD has kindled. And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses.
Aaron and his sons were to show no signs of mourning. They needed to clearly communicate to all the people that the Lord’s judgment is right. They had a responsibility for their people. The Lord did allow for the people to mourn but it was to mourn “the burning,” and the defiling of the tabernacle not to mourn over the judgment of sin.
The people could mourn outside the tabernacle but the priests were still in seven days of the ordination ritual and going outside would have caused them to disobey the Lord’s command. And unlike Nadab and Abihu, they did according to the word of Moses. When you see the judgment of sin, how do you respond? Do you view the judgment of God too harsh? Too serious? What do you think about hell? Is God’s eternal judgment against sin in hell too harsh? How you respond to God’s judgment reveals how we think about sin and holiness.
We need God to be just and to punish sin. If God does not punish sin, then we cannot trust him. God does what he says he is going to do. And yet, when God judges sin, we too often are surprised by it. Or when a church judges sin, people are surprised by it. Why are we surprised? Why do we have an emotional response trying to defend sin? It is most likely we do not understand how bad sin really is and we, ourselves, do not want to face our own judgment. God’s response to Aaron and his sons reminds us that God’s judgments are always best. Beloved, when you see the judgment of sin, be on the Lord’s side. Believe he knows what is best. Believe that those who draw near to him must be sanctified and he must be glorified before all the people.
The fire of the Lord that consumed the burnt offering and the fire of the Lord that consumed sinners both show his glory. To those who delight in the fear of the Lord, they experience the glory of forgiveness over the sin and those who delight in sin, they experience the glory of his wrath for sin. God will be glorified.
The Command to Aaron: Are we living as a kingdom of priests? (Leviticus 10:8-11)
In verse 8, we have the only time the Lord speaks directly to Aaron and only to Aaron. And his words lay out the responsibilities of all priests moving forward, Leviticus 10:8–11,
And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.”
The reference to avoiding drinking wine and strong drink when they are working as priests has led many to think that part of Nadab and Abihu’s sin was in part influenced by being drunk. Alcohol impairs judgment. Drunkenness is a sin for all of God’s people but especially sinful for those leading God’s people. One of the qualifications for elders is not to be a drunkard because those who lack self control with alcohol will make poor decisions leading God’s people. Although the Bible does not prohibit the drinking of alcohol, it provides tremendous caution to all who will partake in it.
The Lord lays out the job requirements of priests that will outline the rest of the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 10:10–11
You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.”
Chapters 11-15 the Lord teaches on how to distinguish between what is clean and unclean. And in Chapters 17-27 he teaches on what is holy and common. But notice the priests do not merely function to offer sacrifices but to teach the people the statues of the Lord.
I would say verses 10-11 are not only helpful for the sons of Aaron, but the sons of God who have become a kingdom of priests. 1 Peter 2:4–5,
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Every church member must help distinguish from what is clean and unclean, what is holy and what is righteous. We must avoid even the appearance of evil by acting as holy priests making spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Are we living as a kingdom of priests? Remember the words of our church covenant,
We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been voluntarily buried by baptism and raised again from the symbolic grave, so there is on us a special obligation now to lead a new and holy life.
This is part of our calling as priests.
The Surviving Sons: How do we respond to the effects of sin? (Leviticus 10:12-15)
The sins of Nadab and Abihu did not nullify the priesthood, but cleansed it. The sons of Aaron, or should I say, the surviving sons of Aaron, must continue with the sacrifices. Leviticus 10:12–15,
Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his surviving sons: “Take the grain offering that is left of the LORD’s food offerings, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy. You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, from the LORD’s food offerings, for so I am commanded. But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed you shall eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and your sons’ due from the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the people of Israel. The thigh that is contributed and the breast that is waved they shall bring with the food offerings of the fat pieces to wave for a wave offering before the LORD, and it shall be yours and your sons’ with you as a due forever, as the LORD has commanded.”
We won’t unpack all the sacrifices here, but just notice that some are removed from the Lord’s service because of sin, others have to step in and fill the gap.
When we see sin, how shall we respond? We do our duty for the Lord and serve where there is a need. Eleazar and Ithamar needed to step in where their brothers failed. As with the sons of Aaron, so too with us. Beloved, there will be those who fall to sin and when they do, we should not be overwhelmed or surprised by it, but rather we should keep our eyes on the Lord and keep our hands on the plow. We should continue to serve the Lord.
The Dispute between Leaders: Does the Lord approve of your life? (Leviticus 10:16-20)
Moses wanted to ensure that Aaron and his sons were doing what the Lord had commanded since Nadab and Abihu failed. Moses found that the sons did not eat the goat offering as he had commanded. Leviticus 10:16–20,
Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD? Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.” And Aaron said to Moses, “Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, and yet such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have approved?” And when Moses heard that, he approved.
Moses and Aaron talk through the situation. Moses was upset that the surviving sons, second time it is used in the passage, did not eat the goat for the sin offering. Moses is angry because the sacrifices had to be followed perfectly if the atonement would be given for the people. This was a big deal. Aaron and his sons were not sinning, but rather were acting in the most appropriate way to honor the Lord. Leviticus 10:19b–20,
If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have approved?” And when Moses heard that, he approved.
Aaron was acting out of the fear of the Lord and didn’t want to eat the offering. And since his motivation was one of honoring the Lord, Moses also approved.
The Lord is gracious to those who fear him. Beloved, we are not going to make every right decision when we face the consequences of sin, but we must have the heart of Aaron to do what we believe will most honor the Lord and be faithful to Scripture. Aaron knew that it was not mere external obedience that the Lord required, but a broken and contrite heart. He knew it would not be best for him to eat the offering.
What is the worst that could happen when we sin against God? Worse than we can possibly imagine. Leviticus 10 is a harsh reminder of the consequences of sin, but it also reminds of how the Lord will deal the consequences of sin for his people. We read Leviticus 10 in light of Leviticus 16 and the Day of Atonement. And we read both passages in light of the finished work of Jesus Christ who chose to be judged as one who was unclean and taken outside the camp like Nadab and Abihu so we could be saved. Hebrews 13:12,
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
The only way we can enter the presence of God is if someone else is judged in our place. Jesus suffered for sin. He took the judgment of God on the cross and he buried it in the grave. And three days later, he was raised from the dead proving that God accepted his sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus took the judgment of God when we were sinners so we could be justified. Romans 5:8–9
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
We do not have to fear the fire of the wrath of God because we are justified through the blood of the Lord Jesus. This is an amazing promise. But it is a promise for only those who believe. If you do not believe in Jesus Christ and allow him to be judged in your place through faith, you will face the wrath of God. Friend, the worst thing that could ever happen to you is to fall into the hands of Almighty God and face his wrath. The best thing that could ever happen to you is to fall on your knees in faith and allow Jesus to stand in for you and pay for your sins. The only way we stand in his presence is if we are approved by God? And we are only approved by him through his son. And he offers that to you and to me today.
We all will see the glory of God. It will either be the glory of his forgiveness or the glory of his wrath. For we can only enter God’s presence the way he has commanded. And Jesus is the way, and the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him.