BIBLE RECORDS | 124 MIRACLES (23)

1. What are "Miracles"?

a) Miracles are those acts that only God can perform; usually superseding natural laws. Baker’s Dictionary of the Bible defines a miracle as “an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God.” It goes on to add that a miracle occurs to show that the power behind it is not limited to the laws of matter or mind as it interrupts fixed natural laws. So the term supernatural applies quite accurately.

b) Miracles are also known as Signs and Wonders.

c) Here we have one of the 124 miracles recorded in the Bible.

2. Miracle 23: Nadab and Abihu consumed for offering “strange fire” (Leviticus 10:1-2). 

a) Strange (profane) fire of Nadab and Abihu. 

Leviticus 10:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

10 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered strange (profane) fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. ² So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 

b) Strange fire.

i) STRANGE FIRE—Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Leviticus 10:1, 2; Numbers 3:4).

ii) SYMBOLIC—Figuratively, fire is a symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power (Exodus 14:19; Numbers 11:1, 3; Judges 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10, 12; 2:11; Isa. 6:4; Ezekiel 1:4; Revelation 1:14, etc.).

@1. God’s word is also likened unto fire (Jeremiah 23:29). It is referred to as an emblem of severe trials or misfortunes (Zechariah 12:6; Luke 12:49; 1 Corinthians 3:13, 15; 1 Peter 1:7), and of eternal punishment (Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:44; Revelation 14:10; 21:8).

@2. The influence of the Holy Ghost is likened unto fire (Matthew 3:11). His descent was denoted by the appearance of tongues as of fire (Acts 2:3).