After the shocking deaths of Nadab and Abihu; Moses and Aaron had a long conversation. Leviticus records what Moses had to say to Aaron in Leviticus 10:3: 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.”
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our Thursday bible study called COME AS A CHILD. Today we will be looking in on Chapters 10 and 11 of Leviticus. If you missed last weeks lesson; you may find it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/strange-fire/
WHEN AARON REMAINED SILENT
We are then told that Aaron remained silent.
Silence sometimes speaks louder than words. Aaron’s sons had died from a lack of respect for God and total carelessness. This was insult added onto injury. Aaron must have been terribly upset; but he held it all in and remained totally silent.
Perhaps Aaron was remembering his own terrible mistake when he had disobeyed God and built the golden calf.
Maybe Aaron was wondering why he received God’s grace but his sons did not.
It could be that he was thinking that the penalty of his own sins had carried over into the lives of his own sons. Sons do imitate their fathers; whether it is with righteous imitations; or with unrighteous imitations. Fathers should be ever aware that their sons are watching their every move. Had these sons watched their father be careless with ministry and were they thinking they could be the same way and not get caught?
Perhaps Aaron bore the guilt and grief of all these thoughts quietly inside his heart. Now; Aaron definitely knew and understood that God was to be revered and respected at all times and in all circumstances. Aaron had totally changed his ways. Perhaps he did not explain that enough to his children. Aaron had repented and changed. They had not. That could be the reason Aaron received grace and his sons did not. Aaron turned from his sins. Apparently these sons had hard hearts that were not going to change. God always knows the state of our heart.
Aaron clearly knew that you did not come before God (especially in front of the people of the congregation) without considering whether or not you were showing the proper honor and respect. Aaron had learned this truth the hard way. He was very fortunate to be standing there as the forgiven High Priest of Israel in spite of his many past mistakes.
AARON’S OTHER SONS REMAINED SILENT AND OBEDIENT
At this point; I’m sure all of Aaron’s other sons were very quietly paying attention too. If they had any of the same characteristics or traits as their brothers; they surely would put them aside now. They were all seriously realizing the true definition of “the fear of the LORD.”
Two other priests named Eleazar and Ithamar, were instructed to carry the bodies of the two dead priests outside the camp and away from the Sanctuary. All unclean things were always carried outside the camp.
Their dead bodies remained clothed in the priestly garments during their removal from the area of the tabernacle. This assured that no one else would ever wear those garments again; and they would be destroyed along with the dead bodies. Hopefully; no one else would ever commit and repeat the sin that had caused them to become unclean.
THOSE WHO COULD AND COULD NOT MOURN
After they returned from banishing their brother’s dead bodies from the camp; Aaron’s sons were reminded that they had been anointed for ministry and that they should remain inside the area of the tent of meeting. They were not to mourn like the other people by not combing their hair or tearing their clothes as mourners typically did in those days.
It was okay for the other relatives to mourn; but the priests who had been anointed to carry out God’s ministry in this new sanctuary were to remain ready and in place and wait patiently until the mourning had passed and the people were ready to move forward again.
MOURNING THOSE THE LORD HAD DESTROYED BY FIRE
I can’t help but think harder about the fact that it was okay for the people of the community to mourn those that the LORD had destroyed by fire.
I can’t help but relate this to today’s world and ask you if you mourn for those who do not choose to follow the ways of God?
Do you cry out for God to save them?
Perhaps our own relatives and friends do not have to go the way of Nadab and Abihu; perhaps they can see reason and turn; but only if we are willing to mourn their condition enough to go to them and explain what might happen if they do not repent of their ways and turn to God’s ways.
We MUST always be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. This should be done respectfully and it should always show love and compassion; but how can this ever be neglected? The truth must be told to those who do not understand.
God said it was okay for the people to mourn for those who were destroyed by the fire.
The walking dead are everywhere.
Are we doing this type of mourning?
Are we giving them the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that gives them the chance to be saved from the fires of hell?
We really do not want to go to that horrible place where Aaron stood on that sad day. None of us should want to see our loved ones destroyed by the fire because they do not believe in and follow the instructions of a loving and merciful God.
THE TIME IS NOW
It is time to let the Gospel of Jesus Christ come forth to quench the fires of hell.
It is time to bring all of the earth to the loving grace of God’s salvation.
The responsibility falls on each of us; we cannot pass this on to others and hope that it somehow happens by chance somewhere along the way. The time is now and we are the called out ones who should be bringing the true fire of God to the people.
Is this what is happening in your local sanctuary?
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