Fire from the Lord - Blessing or Woe? Lev. 8-10

May the mumbling commence!

Fire from the Lord could either be a sign of blessing or a sign of wrath.  It depends upon where and on whom the fire falls.  In the space of four verses (Leviticus 9:23-10:2), fire from the Lord is shown as approval and as wrathful judgment.  After a week of consecration, Aaron and his sons were beginning their ministry before the Lord.  Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and then returned to bless the people.  The glory of the Lord shown and fire came from the presence of the Lord.  The fire consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar.  It is the same altar that Aaron and his sons were commanded to keep the fire burning constantly, but the Lord provided the fire to consume the offering.  What a sign of the Lord’s blessing!  It reminds me of the descending of the pillar of cloud on the Tabernacle.  It also reminds me about the battle between the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth and Elijah, the prophet of the Lord, on Mount Carmel.  Fire from above can be a sign of blessing from the Lord – if the fire falls on the sacrifice.

Then, at the beginning of chapter 10, Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons, filled their censers with incense and burned them.  We are told that the fire was unauthorized and was contrary to the command of the Lord.  We are not told why.  Was it the wrong recipe for incense?  Was it the wrong time?  One can only guess.  But the result was swift and deadly.  Fire came from the Lord’s presence and consumed them.  Though there is no way to know how much time had passed between the ordination and this episode, it seems harsh directly following the consecration in the Scriptures.  Did Nadab and Abihu have enough time to practice and learn the art of serving the Lord before this death sentence?

As one called into official ministry in the church, I am glad that the Lord and His people have become a little more understanding of new ministers.  While churches can still chew up and spit out new ministers fresh out of seminary, divine (or human made) fire does not consume erring new ministers.  I am grateful for the patience, love, and care that my family and I receive from Community Church.  I appreciate the willingness and effort to grow alongside one another on our path to following Jesus more and more.

And, as if this death sentence wasn’t shocking enough, Aaron and his remaining sons are commanded not to mourn for their fellow priests and family members.  Any mourning they were to do would be vicariously through the house of Israel.  There was no space to mourn because they were anointed with the Lord’s oil.  To mourn for Nadab and Abihu would mean death for them.  Maybe it was because they could not have contact with a dead body, which would make them unclean.  But why would they have to avoid all signs of mourning?  To my ears the punishment seems severe.  It is an example that when one sins, the entire community suffers – and the suffering is exponentially increased when the one who sins is a spiritual leader. 

While the damage may no longer be as immediate and tangible, great spiritual damage occurs when a minister or priest fails to serve in a godly manner.  In these ways, ministers blaspheme.  Though we are not to think about levels of sin, I believe this way of taking the Lord’s name in vain is the worst.  Think about all the damage that has been done to the church with the abuse that has happened in official ministry.  And the damage grew worse when the church ignored it and hid it away.  As a church family, we need to confront these issues so that community can be restored – both for the offender and the victim.

On the other hand, when ministry is done in a godly way, much spiritual good can come from it.  Think about the awe that happened around the world as the Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, responded to the family of the man who murdered their children.  The forgiveness, grace, and love given to the man’s family captivated the whole world.  It had to have been a hard path for them – as hard as the path recorded in today’s passage.  Even so, it is the way that Christ calls us to go.  Sacrifice will be commanded that will be as difficult as the sacrifice that Aaron and his living sons had to make so long ago.  May the Holy Spirit of the Lord go with us as we seek to serve the Lord (both the official ministers and the laypersons).  May we be sensitive to that still small voice.  And may we be channels of spiritual godliness rather than channels of spiritual destruction.  Then, the fire of the Lord will fuel our ministries rather than consume us.

Enough mumbling for today…  

Peace Out