CAREFUL OBEDIENCE - NADAB & ABIHU

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) Solomon and his workers carefully followed God's instructions. As a result, the temple work was blessed by God and completed in every detail.

b) Here is one of the few examples of people in the Bible who did not carefully follow one of God's instructions, and the resulting consequences. It is not enough to obey God half-heartedly.

1. Who? Nadab & Abihu 

a) God's instruction

i) Fire for the sacrifice must come from the proper source.

@1. ¹² And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. ¹³ A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:12-13 NKJV)

b) Disobedience

i) They used profane fire for their sacrifice.

@1. Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. (Leviticus 10:1 NKJV)

c) Result

i) They were struck dead.

@1. ² So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:2 NKJV)

The End ...