“Boys who play with fire wet their pants at night!” These were the surprising words that came from my Grandpa to my older male cousin who was caught messing around with the fire we had started in the burn barrel.  The burn barrel was the way to rid the house of all the trash consumable by fire on Grandpa and Grandma’s farm.  It was our “assignment” that morning to take the trash to the barrel and burn it. We gladly obeyed.

Fire is mesmerizing, especially to city kids who do not get to do this at home because trash is picked up by trucks!  So, the temptation to see what fire can do is attractive to the curious. But fire is very dangerous when the “rules” are not adhered to and the fire leaves the barrel to consume what you did not intend…like grassland on the farm! 

People who play with fire generally get burned, too.  

I am reminded of this memory as I read how the sons of Aaron decided to “play with fire” that was designated to be Holy while going about their assigned work from Holy God.  Their rebellion against the Holy did not go well for them.  I can only imagine the shock and grief of Aaron and his family.          

Leviticus 10

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. ² So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. ³ Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:

“‘Among those who approach me
    I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
    I will be honored.’”

Aaron remained silent.

⁴ Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” ⁵ So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.

⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. ⁷ Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.

⁸ Then the Lord said to Aaron, ⁹ “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, ¹⁰ so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, ¹¹ and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.”

¹² Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the Lord and eat it beside the altar, for it is most holy. ¹³ Eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the Lord; for so I have been commanded. ¹⁴ But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. ¹⁵ The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering. This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded.”

¹⁶ When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, ¹⁷ “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord. ¹⁸ Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”

¹⁹ Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” ²⁰ When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn that disobedience to God and dishonor of all that God has made Holy is a matter of life and death.  Playing with fire, meant to be holy and blessed by God, is a dangerous, fool hardy life.  Playing around the Enemy’s fire is extremely dangerous!  We are so easily distracted and deceived by the Enemy who seeks to destroy us with his fire of rebellion against God.  In fact, his entire goal is rebellion against Almighty, Holy God and death for us!

God’s Holy Fire is meant to purify us like gold. Fire polishes and removes impurities in silver until the reflection of the Silversmith is seen in His work of art. God’s fire within us gives us His power, igniting our hearts to burn with a desire love and serve Him while pleasing Him in all we think, say, and do!  His fire removes all that is not God and sears into our being all that is God.

The Enemy’s fire is meant to destroy us forever. When we use the enemy’s fire to relate to people, relationships are seared and burned.  When we use the enemies fire to guide our tongues, hot tempers flame up the coals of hate.  Our problems escalate. Our lives are robbed of the peace of Christ and the joy our salvation turns to sadness until evil’s fire is extinguished and consumed by the fire of God once more.

Sometimes only the ashes of what once was remains. Not to worry!  Our God is the God of miracles! God can bring dry bones alive and turn ashes of defeat into victory!  His Son, Jesus, provided the Way! This is who God is and what He does! God was, is and is to come. His faithfulness lasts a lifetime, His compassions never fail, and His love never ends.

There is no one like our God!  Do what God says!

Lord,

We have learned a valuable lesson of who you are and how you work in our lives because of your deep love for us. Rebellion against all that is Holy is foolish.  Help us today to live a higher standard of behaving that reflects your holiness.  Not that we have attained perfection; we know we are perfectly forgiven. Only you can make us holy before you by your love, mercy, and grace.  Thank you, Lord.  I just wanted you to know I know what is required of me. Help me to be and then do all you created me to be and do for your glory.

In Jesus Name, Amen