Nadab & Abihu

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Their Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

The Eldest Sons of Aaron (Ex. 6:23)

Aaron is said to have had four sons. Nadab & Abihu are always mentioned as the eldest two.

The Eldest Sons of Aaron

Priests of God (Ex. 28:1)

We see in Ex. 28:1 that Nadab & Abihu along w/ Eleazar & Ithamar are called out for the work of the priesthood.

They were Priests of God

Exiles from Egypt (Num. 4:3)

We note that in God’s requirements for the priests, they had to be of 30 years of age.

Why is this important?

It’s important because they had first row seats to the wonders, miracles & Judgments of God!

They could not claim ignorance. They knew God was Holy, and God meant what He said!

Exiles from Egypt

II. Their Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

Being Called to the Priesthood (Ex. 24:1; 9; 28:1)

Not only were they called to the Priesthood officially in Ex. 28:1; but In addition to that, we see that Nadab & Abihu by themselves were called unto the mount of God by name.

Consider for a moment the gravity of Exodus 24:1“And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.”

These two men were mentioned in the same breath as Moses & Aaron. They were obviously very influential, respected people in the nation of Israel.

Being called to the Priesthood

Being Killed for Strange Fire (Lev. 10:1-2; Num. 3:4; 1Ch. 24:2)

The Bible tells us in Leviticus 16:12“And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:”

This Scripture tells us about the High Priest and how he was to take his censor with the coals from off the Altar.

I t’s apparent that Nadab & Abihu took fire from another source (I mean, fire is fire, right?) and offered incense thereon.

Remember offering of incense is representative of worship and prayer.

At the Altar of Incense

At Noah’s Altar of Worship after the Ark landed (Gen. 8:21)

Worshipping through giving from the Church at Philippi to Paul (Phil. 4:18)

So in essence, they were Worshipping amiss

Being Killed by Strange Fire

III. What Makes them Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Position doesn’t equal Godliness

As we have established, Nadab & Abihu are priests of the Most High God.

They were in the same breath as Moses & Aaron when God was calling people unto the Mount of God.

Yet even still with that elevated position concerning the House of God, they weren’t Godly people.

I say that to say this: It SHOULD BE that those who desire and seek God and the things of God the greatest, they are promoted and hold the offices & positions within the church. But because man’s sight is limited, sometimes wicked people - for a variety of reasons - are promoted.

This is obviously the case with Nadab & Abihu. They were promoted, but they were not Godly.

This is how snake oil salesmen such as Joel Osteen rises to the ranks of elite among men.

He got his start much like Nadab & Abihu - he was born into it. But just because he holds a high position in a church and esteem among men, doesn’t mean that God is a fan.

Position doesn’t equal Godliness

Pick your Companions Carefully

Whenever you see the name Nadab in the Bible, do you know who is always there? Abihu. When you see Abihu in the Bible, do you know who’s always there? Nadab. These men were thick as thieves, and it led to their destruction.

The Bible doesn’t tell us who was the leader (though probably Nadab being the oldest), but whenever you see two together such as that, one is typically the leader and the other the follower. Offering the strange fire was SOMEBODY’S idea and the other went along with it.

This brings me to the point that we must be careful who we are allowing influence our lives.

As I said, it’s probable that Abihu followed Nadab, but what would have been wiser is if instead of being a follower of wickedness, to be a leader of righteousness. He could have been a leader to his younger brothers instead.

Proverbs 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

Pick your Companions Carefully

Though God Proves, Wicked Men Still Rebel and Reject

This was tricky to try to word as a short sentence. What I mean is that even though God might ‘prove’ He’s real, or that God might ‘prove’ He’s in control - it doesn’t mean that men will accept His Authority over their lives.

Remember, these men saw the miracles of God!

They saw the water turned to blood!

They saw the various plagues!

Nadab escaped the Judgment of God by the blood of the Lamb!

They walked across the Red Sea on dry ground.

Yet they still rebelled against the LORD.

The Pharisees saw Jesus work many miracles, yet they still had Him Crucified.

(Ill.) There’s a Christian apologist named Frank Turek that debates evolutionists & takes questions from various atheists & such. I’ve heard him multiple times at the conclusion of an answer say “If Christianity were true, would you be a Christian”. Sometimes they say yes, oftentimes, they hem-haw or just decline. Do you know why?

John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

So we understand that even though God proves Himself, oftentimes, men act in accordance to their wicked desires instead of God’s.

Though God proves, Wicked men still Rebel & Reject

Ceremony Alone Doesn’t Impress God

While men might have been impressed by the taking of fire and burning the incense - and it looking very religious like, it didn’t impress God.

In fact, Aaron understood this. (Read Lev. 10:16-20) and it’s why he refused to eat of the portion of the sin offering

God doesn’t want us simply going through religious motions - John 4:23–24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Ceremony alone doesn’t Impress God - because…

Man Sees the Motion, but God knows the Notion

Proverbs 15:11 “Hell and destruction are before the Lord: How much more then the hearts of the children of men?”

Psalm 90:8 “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.”

Psalm 44:20–21 “If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

While it might have looked fine on the surface to men, it wasn’t to God. Men looked at the outward ceremony, but God looked at their hearts.

The reason they used ‘Strange Fire’ is because they didn’t care about what God said concerning the manner in which they were to worship Him.

It wasn’t about the Fire, it’s about what the actions represented - distain toward God’s Commands.

*** This leads me to the next point concerning worship ***

Not All Worship is Acceptable Worship

Nadab & Abihu were burning incense on the fires in their censors. The incense was a ‘sweet smelling savor unto the LORD’. The priests did this as an act of worship.

When Aaron took his censor in Lev. 16:12 and put fire therein, it had to come from the coal from the altar - which was sanctified - which was where all the sacrifices unto the LORD were made.

So by God striking them dead for putting ‘Strange Fire’ in their censors, surely one thing that we conclude from this is that not all Worship is Acceptable Worship.

We live in a day when there’s a lot of ‘Worship’ going on. I’m speaking specifically about what’s known as ‘Praise and Worship’ music and such. Many contemporary churches, they have about 45 minutes or so doing their ‘Praise and Worship’ and about a 15 minute devotional at the end before closing the service with another Praise ‘invitational’ song…

And I want to preface this by saying, I don’t think that it’s done maliciously. It’s done more so now than ever because our culture has deemed it ok. But IF it’s wrong, then it’s still wrong regardless of ignorance or reason.

(Ill.) Not long after I moved here I got a speeding ticket over in Newport. I was clocked at 55 in a 40. I didn’t see any signs & I assumed it was 55. But my ignorance didn’t make it right did it? Do you know what would have made it worse? If I did it on purpose!

When it comes to worship, if it’s going to be acceptable, it must be what God designs, not what man desires.

It must be what God Designed not what man Desires

Nadab & Abihu worshipped the way they wanted - not the way God commanded.

True Worship - (remember, we’re called to worship in Spirit and in Truth) - seeks to please the object of worship not the offerer of worship.

You ask anyone that listens to that music and ask them why, the answer is always going to be ‘because I like it’ or ‘because it makes ME feel good’ or ‘it makes ME feel close to God’ - some form or variation with that. But that’s the problem - worship must be centered on God’s desires, not man’s. And when it comes to God’s desires in music, one Scripture to consider is:

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Many will use this Scripture to justify the K-Love type music, but if you’re honest with the text, it doesn’t justify it, it speaks against it.

The word ‘Spiritual’ (def) non-carnal

So in other words, it cannot sound like typical carnal music. It should not mimic degenerate music, it should be regenerate music. So any music that sounds like pop-culture music would be classified as carnal by definition.

For Worship to be Acceptable to God, it must be what God designs, not what man Desires.

Godly Responsibilities must be Carried out with the Proper Attitude

God’s People must carry out God’s Responsibilities with a Godly attitude. One focused on Him, and His Will for our lives.

Luke 12:48 “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

Conclusion