STRANGE FIRE OFFERING
If the books of Exodus (the latter half of the book) and
Leviticus used hashtags, I guess it would kind of read like this: #obeymydecrees
#carefullyfollowmyinstructions #justastheLordcommanded #IamtheLord
In other words, I believe the main topic of these books is:
OBEY THE LORD… JUST AS HE COMMANDED.
Here are a few things that I learned:
1. WHY ALL THESE LAWS? I noticed that God’s instructions were VERY SPECIFIC, especially in the building of the Tabernacle, so much that It was mindboggling (at least for me). But when I turned to Hebrews 8:5, I found out that “They serve in A SYSTEM OF WORSHIP that is only A COPY, a SHADOW OF THE REAL ONE IN HEAVEN. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: ‘Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.’”
2. GOD PROVIDES AND EQUIPS. This is one of the things that totally fascinated me. After God had given Moses the specific instructions in building the Tabernacle, He said this: “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel… I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts…He is a master at every craft! (Exodus 31:1-5). When God calls you to do something, He himself will equip you and provide for you. (Hebrews 13:21).
3. GOD IS SOVEREIGN. Several times, you would come across phrases like this: You must faithfully (or carefully) keep all my commands. I AM THE LORD. These words impressed in my heart God’s sovereign authority upon all creation. He is a HOLY GOD who deserves reverent obedience. He is a JUST GOD who wouldn’t tolerate rebellion to His authority. And He is a LOVING GOD who constantly instructs and reminds us His decrees, and who fills us with the Holy Spirit to empower us in obeying His commands.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OFFER A STRANGE FIRE. I want to put on more emphasis on this topic. This has to be one of the most terrifying thing in these books. The strange fire offering happened in Leviticus 10. Aaron was the chief priest, and serving under his authority were his sons Nadab and Abihu. And, like I’ve mentioned, God’s instructions were very specific. Verses 1-2 says: “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord.” Nahab and Abihu might have had the right desire to worship God, which was a good thing. But because they overlooked or disregarded God’s specific commands (and chain of authority: GOD-Moses-Aaron), what could have been an earnest desire to worship instead became an act of disobedience or rebelliousness, which caused them their lives.
1. WHY ALL THESE LAWS? I noticed that God’s instructions were VERY SPECIFIC, especially in the building of the Tabernacle, so much that It was mindboggling (at least for me). But when I turned to Hebrews 8:5, I found out that “They serve in A SYSTEM OF WORSHIP that is only A COPY, a SHADOW OF THE REAL ONE IN HEAVEN. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: ‘Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.’”
2. GOD PROVIDES AND EQUIPS. This is one of the things that totally fascinated me. After God had given Moses the specific instructions in building the Tabernacle, He said this: “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel… I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts…He is a master at every craft! (Exodus 31:1-5). When God calls you to do something, He himself will equip you and provide for you. (Hebrews 13:21).
3. GOD IS SOVEREIGN. Several times, you would come across phrases like this: You must faithfully (or carefully) keep all my commands. I AM THE LORD. These words impressed in my heart God’s sovereign authority upon all creation. He is a HOLY GOD who deserves reverent obedience. He is a JUST GOD who wouldn’t tolerate rebellion to His authority. And He is a LOVING GOD who constantly instructs and reminds us His decrees, and who fills us with the Holy Spirit to empower us in obeying His commands.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OFFER A STRANGE FIRE. I want to put on more emphasis on this topic. This has to be one of the most terrifying thing in these books. The strange fire offering happened in Leviticus 10. Aaron was the chief priest, and serving under his authority were his sons Nadab and Abihu. And, like I’ve mentioned, God’s instructions were very specific. Verses 1-2 says: “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord.” Nahab and Abihu might have had the right desire to worship God, which was a good thing. But because they overlooked or disregarded God’s specific commands (and chain of authority: GOD-Moses-Aaron), what could have been an earnest desire to worship instead became an act of disobedience or rebelliousness, which caused them their lives.
In my own words, the message was like: If
you’re going to obey, do it right. This impressed two things in my heart: First,
it showed the importance of studying the Bible. How can we obey when we don’t
even know what the commands are? It baffles me (as well as breaks my heart
since I am guilty as well) how when it comes to instructions from our bosses
(or professors), we instantaneously obey. But when it comes to the King of kings
and Lord of lords, we seem to be always slacking or if we do obey, we do it in
our own way. Such irreverence to our Holy God!
It may sound harsh. But if you’d read
through the Scriptures, God really commands reverence to His holy name. The
Lord said to Moses in Leviticus 22:31, “You must faithfully keep all my
commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. Do not bring shame
on My holy name…”
Second, I really thank God that I (we) no
longer live under the Law but under Grace. Because I know for a fact that GOD
never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore even His
commands are unchangeable. But like how God equipped the craftsmen with skills
to fulfill His specific commands in building the Tabernacle (Exodus 31), so has
God equipped us with the means to fulfill His commands – through Christ Jesus,
the Lamb of God, who died “once and for all.” Hebrews 7:27 says: Unlike those
other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did
this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus
did this once for all when He offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s
sins.
Through God himself we are able to keep His
commands! Galatians 2:20 “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by
trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
All glory to God! Amen and amen!
Comments
Post a Comment