Chapter 10
As many of you know, I grew up around some unusual belief systems. Maybe some of you did too. While doing a bit of research, I learned that there are around 4,500 religions in the world today that are outside of the foundational Christian faith—meaning, they don’t hold to core Christian doctrines like the absolute divinity of Jesus or the Trinity.
Together, these religions represent about 6 billion people out of the approximately 8.1 billion people on Earth today. And this group doesn’t just include followers of other faiths—it also includes people who consider themselves “non-religious” but still hold to a secular worldview. In a way, that’s like having a non-religious religion—a system of belief without acknowledging God.
We all hear about these different life philosophies. People trying to explain where life came from. Others trying to define—or redefine—what morality is. Some even mix parts of the Bible with their own ideas to make exceptions for certain behaviors while condemning others. Honestly, it can get messy and confusing.
But here’s the thing—God knew this would happen. He knows the enemy—Satan—and how badly he wants to be like God. Satan constantly tries to imitate or replace God in people’s lives, turning hearts away from the Father and toward himself. Sometimes, it only takes a small deviation to lead someone off the right path.
Even in churches I’ve visited, I’ve heard strange ideas—like “prosperity angels.” It’s a reminder that not everything that sounds spiritual is from God.
In Leviticus 10, we see an example of this. In the previous chapter (Leviticus 9), something amazing happened: the priests were ordained and began their ministry. They made the required sacrifices, and God responded by sending fire from heaven to consume the offering—a sign of His presence. The people worshiped and celebrated.
But then, in chapter 10, two priests—Nadab and Abihu—brought a different fire before the Lord. They added incense to it and presented it as an offering. On the surface, it might not seem like a big deal. But in the Bible, fire often represents God’s presence, power, and holiness. So offering a “different fire” was like presenting a counterfeit presence.
Likewise, incense often symbolizes prayer, devotion, and worship. By putting it on a fire God didn’t command, they were essentially saying, “Here’s another way to worship.” They were offering an alternative path.
We still hear this idea today: “Your truth is your truth, and my truth is mine. We’re both right.” But God’s Word tells a different story.
As I read this chapter, a verse from Proverbs came to mind:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to destruction.” (Proverbs 14:12)
And Jesus said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
So be careful, brothers and sisters, of any teaching or preaching that doesn’t point clearly back to Jesus and the cross. The Bible has one message from beginning to end—the redemptive work of God through Jesus Christ. Don’t let anyone “tickle your ears” with ideas about hidden formulas or special knowledge apart from Jesus Christ crucified for us all.
The Death of Nadab and Abihu
1 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. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 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.’ ” Aaron remained silent.
4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.
6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.
8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.” [God desires that we worship Him with clear brains, full willingness, and a natural heart postured toward Him. Not by any form of medicated help, whether drink or otherwise. He wants OUR devotion, not a medicated, mystic, false devotion.]
12 Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the LORD and eat it beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 Eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the LORD; for so I have been commanded. 14 But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. 15 The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the LORD as a wave offering. This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”
16 When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, 17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the LORD. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”
19 Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the LORD have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.
