So many of Jehovah’s judgments have been recorded, why is it that many still believe that the Law is obsoleted? If He has written His Holy Law on our hearts, then it must still be obeyed. This next example of how He views obedience and absolute compliance to His commandments and instructions, must be also put into context. This is the sad story of two of Aaron’s four sons.
Exodus 24:1 Then He said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance.
24:9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 24:10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
24:11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank. This was the covenant confirming meal between the leaders of Israel and Jehovah. A covenant needed three things to be enforceable.
First, an oath between the parties.
Second, a sacrifice with the death of an innocent animal.
Thirdly, a joint meal where all would agree to all the terms and conditions.
While Aaron had 4 sons, only these 2 are mentioned.
Just contemplate what they had experienced! They sat down to this meal with the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ! He had come down as the sole member of the GOD-head to redeem, lead, and provide for the people that He had created in His image.
Who could forget this?
Who would not be profoundly changed by this?
Who would dare to disobey after this?
Leviticus 10:1 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.
10:2 And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Nadab and Abihu had just gone through a dress rehearsal with Moses. Had been clothed in priestly robes by Moses. And carefully instructed by Moses. Yet, for their very first duty as part of the newly created Aaronic priesthood, they apparently had come up with something Jehovah had not required or requested. This is religion at its worse. Jehovah’s righteous judgment was swift and deadly. What was Arron to do as he witnessed this terrible tragedy?
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.'" So Aaron, therefore, kept silent
10:4 Moses called also to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel, and said to them, "Come forward, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to the outside of the camp."
10:5 So they came forward and carried them still in their tunics to the outside of the camp, as Moses had said.
10:6 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, so that you will not die and that He will not become wrathful against all the congregation. But your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, shall bewail the burning which the LORD has brought about.
10:7 "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.
Moses, Aaron’s brother, offered no comforting words at this time, but instead warned Aaron about Jehovah’s holiness and His expectations. No grieving, no public display of sorrow.
Jehovah’s holiness is infinitely more important than our happiness or any other emotion we may be feeling. Moses understood this and his warning may have saved Aaron’s life.
I do wonder if Aaron’s disobedience in building the golden calf had contributed to his son’s disregard for Jehovah’s holy requirements. They were not ignorant nor innocent.
If their father can get away with building a golden calf, they may have thought that they could create their own ideas of worship that pleased them without consideration if it pleased Jehovah.
We must all be constantly aware for what type of example we may be presenting to those close to us. Fathers especially have to present a godly image to their children and wife.
More next Saturday.