READING: Leviticus 9:1-11:47
We don’t know with certainty why the fire they offered was problematic, but we do know that the sons of Aaron did something “different than he [God] had commanded” (Lev 10:1)—and that’s all that matters. They had previously seen Aaron make sacrifices just as God had commanded, and they saw God consume the burnt offering before the people—yet they nevertheless chose their own plan for “burning before him [God] the wrong kind of fire” (Lev 10:1). In judgment, the same God who had consumed the offerings now consumed the disobedient sons. The holy God displayed His glory through righteous judgment.
What might seem a harsh punishment to us was actually a dramatic means by which God said at the beginning of the priesthood, “I will not tolerate your doing things in any other way than the way I commanded.” He had set the standard, and He expected His people to obey Him without compromise or exception. His expectations of us are no different.
God is still a holy God who has a right to demand absolute obedience to His commands. Only through the shed blood of Christ can we meet those demands.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you ever offer to God something less than what He’s required?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “God, show me if I ever choose to follow You on my terms.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Leviticus 12:1-14:32