What were they thinking! Was it arrogance to the highest degree? . . . or was it an “in the moment” lack of judgment? We don’t know specifically . . . we can only speculate. What we do know, however, is that it was a big deal! A really big deal! So big it cost them their lives . . . putting the ultimate damper on the “opening ceremonies” of the tent of meeting and the priesthood of Aaron & Sons.

“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. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.” (Leviticus 10:1-2 ESV)

After chapters of meticulous instruction . . . after days of commissioning the priesthood instituted of God “as the Lord commanded Moses” (a phrase found repeatedly in Leviticus 8 and 9) . . . after the glory of the Lord appears to all the people and they go facedown in worship (9:23b-24) . . . these sons of Aaron decide to “wing it” . . . and, quickly and permanently their wings are clipped! And you can’t help but ask, “How come?” How did they conceive of such an idea . . . where did the thought originate for their own “new and improved” offering? And why did God react so strongly? A bit over the top, perhaps? Apparently not.

And so these questions are kind of going through my mind as I continue to read in Leviticus 10 . . . and then I hit verse 8. Apparently this is the only time that God speaks directly to Aaron instead of through Moses. It’s the only time God goes one-on-one with the man he has called to be high priest . . . to be the presence of the people before Him . . . to be the mediator of atoning sacrifice . . . to approach the Holy of holies. And what does God say to Aaron during this once in a lifetime direct encounter? “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.”

Were Nadab and Abihu impaired? Had they “taken a nip or two” to steady their nerves on this big, big day of their ordination? Or, had the party like atmosphere tempted them to “party before going to work?” We don’t know. But you gotta ask yourself why this extraordinary God-to-man commandment is made at this point. You can’t help but wonder if there’s a connection between intoxicating drink, censers of smoldering, incensed laced fire lying on the ground, and two dead guys.

And it’s not, “You shall not drink” . . . it’s you shall not drink when you go into the tent of meeting . . . when you enter My presence . . . when you minister on My behalf. And God clearly spells out the reason why . . . “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.” (10:10-11). It seems to me that God’s chat with Aaron was all about avoiding that which confused one’s ability to distinguish the holy and unholy . . . to stay away from stuff that caused carelessness in how holy ground was being trod . . . to say “No” to mind-dulling substances or influences when abiding in the presence of God. And, for Aaron, the absence of two sons would be a reminder of just how serious God was about such things.

So what? What’s the lesson for me . . . how does this apply in my life? Although I have personally seen and interacted with way too much of the destructive aftermath of alcohol and think it would be best if people “didn’t play with that fire” . . . Leviticus 10:9 is not the “proof verse” for saying Christians shouldn’t “partake.” But this passage is a sober (no pun intended) reminder of the care with which we should approach our high and holy calling as the people of God . . . our calling as “a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5). I should be careful of anything, not just “strong drink”, that would impair my ability to distinguish the holy from the common . . . of that which would dull the Spirit’s voice and leave me vulnerable to embracing that which is “unclean” as if it were “clean”. My God is holy . . . and those who are His are to be holy (1Peter 1:15-16) . . . to not carelessly “wing it” and offer up whatever sacrifice seems appropriate in our eyes . . . especially if those eyes are clouded by being “under the influence” . . . of strong drink or, of this world.

Oh, that I would not “wing it” . . . but would enter the holy place with care . . . for His glory . . . amen.