Aaron's sons, strange fire, and killer gods - can you explain it to me?

Question

According to Leviticus 10, Aaron's sons took censers, put fire in them, and incense on top of that.

The result was a strange fire - so god sent another fire to devour and kill them.

Do you think they did that on purpose? Did they realize the fire was strange? I don't own any censers, so I'm not sure if that's the normal way to do it or not, but from what I understand of censers this is exactly how you use them.

If it was on purpose, can you figure out why they did it, and how? What made the fire strange that one time?

If it was an accident, don't you think god overreacted? Wouldn't it be better to explain to them what they were doing wrong instead of just killing them? Also are they in hell right now for this? And how can we make sure this kind of accident doesn't happen again?

Answer 1

The NIV version of the Bible says "and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command." Lev. 10:1

Israel and the priests were required to obey God's voice and keep his covenants (Exodus 19:5,6). God required this obedience from the priests specifically because they were the ones approaching the Lord, who is holy. God cannot be in the presence of sin. As in Exodus 19:22 "Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them."

Nadab and Abihu had offered fire (the "strange" fire) that was not part of God's process. Some have speculated that possibly the incense was a different mixture than what was specified in Exodus 30:34-38. But either way Nadab and Abihu sinned in disobedience to God. God is holy and they had to be holy to approach him. They weren't and he consumed them with fire (he broke out against them).

I don't think what they did was an accident. They were instructed in what was the right way to do things, and if they did them the wrong way there was outlined consequences. God cannot overreact. As for your hell question, only God knows the heart.

Answer 2

In the old testament, God was teaching the Hebrews (Jews) about following directions, among other things. He was teaching them to purify themselves and become holy (holy = set apart) so they could become closer to God.

God issued instructions to Moses, and Moses passed the instructions on to the people. Aaron's family was given the special tasks related to the place where God would dwell in the midst of the people.

God gave special directions on how He wanted His dwelling kept. One of these instructions covered the use of incense. There were special times that incense was to be used, and the incense that God preferred had a special formula.

Now, keep in mind that this was God's home, and regular people were not to go in there without invitation.

So, sum it all up by saying that God, the supreme creator and leader of all, asked for things to be done His way, and rightfully expected that they would be done so. He also quite clearly specified that failure was not an option, and that misuse of His things or His house resulted in death to the ones perpetrating such an abomination.

Aaron's sons misused the censers and the incense. They were the ones who overreacted, grabbed the censers and started up the incense when it was not needed and not wanted.

Of course, God proved a point when these guys were destroyed. He was serious about the rules.

There are other cases where someone who probably meant no harm did something wrong and was instantly killed.

There was a time when the Arc of the Covenant was stolen from the Jews. This is like a special container for the written words of God, that was like a big treasure box on legs.

When it was stolen, God punished the city of the thieves with boils and illnesses, so they decided to send the Arc back. They put it on a flat wagon, and hitched up a couple of cattle to tow it. Needless to say, the cattle made a beeline for the land of the Jews.

When it got near to the Jews, they rejoiced, and sent out a part to accompany it back home. On the way, there was a rough patch of ground, and one man who was unauthorized to touch God's things (and he was well aware of this fact) grabbed the Arc "to steady it". He was immediately killed.

Why? Because he was not authorized to touch God's things. God had seen to the safety of the Arc all the way from the land of the thieves to that little bit of rough ground, and this one man did not believe God could protect it over a little bumpy ground.

Sometimes, God tests you. If you remain faithful to your teachings, and faithful that God will do His thing so all you have to do is what God asks you to do, you will be fine.

Answer 3

This isn't a matter of the chemistry of the fire they used, it was a violation of the commandment given to all the people of Israel:

Exodus 24:1-3 (NIV): Then he said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him." When Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do."

Look specifically at, "Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near."

Leviticus 10:1-2 tells (NIV): 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. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Nadab and Abihu, although priests, took it upon themselves to break the commandment God gave them and present the offering to the LORD themselves - not through Moses.

The fire was strange, perhaps, because it was not in accordance with the commandment God has provided to Moses.

Through this God provides a very clear message that his commandments are not to be broken. The explaination was already provided.

As for their place now (you suggested hell), I cannot comment.

As for making sure that this kind of "accident" doesn't happen again, we can't. Revelation 8:5 (among others) tell us that a consuming fire should be expected (NIV: Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake). Verse 7 states (NIV), "The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up." We can each choose if we want to relate to God on our terms, like Nadab and Abihu, or if we want to relate to God on His terms, as He commanded in His convenants (including the covenant of Christ - Matthew 26:27-28).

God is serious when he makes his covenants. There is eternal life waiting for those who believe in Christ.

Answer 4

8 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: 9 Drink no wine or other intoxicant, you or your sons, when you enter the Tent of Meeting, that you may not die. This is a law for all time throughout the ages, 10 for you must distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean; 11 and you must teach the Israelites all the laws which the Lord has imparted to them through Moses.

Let me ask your question in a different way, "Do you think the two drunks over-reacted by dieing over a little fire?" What I mean is if God is not to be considered in how we live our lives, then what power does have over us that we need to consider him? These guys were slaves in Egypt and helpless to free themselves. They had been delivered by God and personally lived through Ex 19.

If God created us with a purpose and we go against that purpose, then what?" Take random items like a car, pencil, microwave oven, and a toilet. From these examples and the rest of the things man created, everything that man creates is dependant on man. The idea of a creation without a purpose and interaction with the creator does NOT exist.

Likewise, you can certainly take a microwave oven, put it in a bathtub, and try to cook your meal while you take a bath. While it is possible, you would probably want to look into the manufacturer's hand book to find out the limitations of the microwave. You would want to see if the microwave was designed to cook food while you took a bath before you attempted it.

While you might argue that all microwaves should be able to cook your food while bathing, the manufacturer's warning against it is all you have. If you choose to go against what the manufacturer says, frying yourself, the microwave but not cooking the food are real possibilities. Do you then blame the manufacturer for doing something even though they told you not to before you did it anyway?

When the hail came, do blame God for giving the warning or the people for doing nothing having been warned? The same was true about those who put the blood of the lamb on the doorframe of their house. Anyone who followed God’s instruction through His messenger was spared and those who didn't died.

The Bible is our manufacturer's handbook. It tells us how to live and what will kill us.

And so it is today. As Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Those who don't want to follow God's instruction have no certainty of continuing to live as it is God that made us, gave us life, and continues to provide for our needs.

The living God, who created you with a purpose, would want you to do that purpose on earth. If not, why did He make you and put you here???? Only when you have a relationship with your creator like a child has with a Father do you know. Or what father that has authority over a child isn't known by the child???

How would a pencil or car know if it was doing what it was created to do? If you were a pencil, you would write something. Writing is beyond a pencil's capacity but isn't if its creator writes with it. A car could go someplace. Cars sit there without a driver. So if your life takes you places you never dreamed were possible, then God is your driver.

Knowing isn't a possibility for a few. It is a certainty for all who God created. Have you asked God about your purpose? This is a question any God or Father would answer. But do you really want to know God and do what He created you to do?

Answer 5

Sulfur, charcoal, saltpeter, get it? There were two columns close by, cast in bronze, and I suspect hollow. The Lord fought for them, and those engagements appeared as fire at night, and smoke by day. Moses used spies, or lookouts, and the Tabernacle moved much like a mobile command center. Have you ever seen an artillery barrage? A strange fire indeed. Commonly known as the King of Battle (Infantry is the Queen). There are several occasions where people were killed, or injured on the trip to Judea that are described eerily like explosions. All of the parts are there, put them together.

God sent another fire to devour them...sounds like white phosphorous to me...

Also, artilery gunners seem to always name their guns. The book you read gives names for the two pillars as well...hmm...

Answer 6

You are Not knowledge the Bible. In Gen. it tells us that Jesus obtained to be the Christ considering he used to be the one angel that had Never sinned! I have long past by way of my New Testament and counted over 550 locations that state that Jesus is Not God! Like wherein Jesus mentioned: Why do you name me "well"? I am Not well. Only God is well.". "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and energy, and the way he went round doing well and treatment all who have been beneath the energy of the satan, considering God used to be WITH him." "...You have not ever heard his voice nor obvious his style,...". "For the very paintings that the Father has given me to conclude, and which i'm doing, testifies that the Father has despatched me." It is pleasant to obey the Bible, now not lazy persons individual needs and wants.