The blood of the animals is a consistant and daily reminder of the sinfulness of Israel, and the consequences of sin, namely death. These animals took the place of the Israelite's lives, at least temporarily.
But what if the mediator is corrupt? What if the one who is supposed to bring the people to God and God to the people is a sinner? What happens if the purifier is impure? We learn of God's wrath against them in this short narrative.
10:1-3 Now Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his censer, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered unholy fire before the Lord, such as he had not commanded them.2 And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said,‘Through those who are near me I will show myself holy,and before all the people I will be glorified.’"
God said that he would show himself holy, and that he would be glorified. Now, there are some who believe that God only gets glory when he redeems people. But he also gets glory when he exercises his wrath.
Now, this portion of scripture is hard for us to bear. I mean, they were killed for burning the wrong kind of incense. And if that were all it was, it would seem so very wrong. But, it is in those seemingly non-consequential sins that man is so easily ensnared by. Humanity fell under a curse because Adam bit into a fruit. These were killed for offering unapproved incense. Uzzah died for touching the Ark.
But Adam didn't just eat the fruit. Adam disobeyed God, and brought a schism between heaven and earth. God told him what was going to happen, and Adam deliberately disobeyed God. Nadab and Abihu did the same exact thing. God told them how to do their job. And they did exactly what God told them not to do. Now, because the priests are a type of Christ, and are administering the sacrifices that are also foreshadowing Christ, this sort of insubordination cannot be tolerated. Beware of testing God, saying "will God really do what he said he would?"
God said that he would show himself holy, and that he would be glorified. Now, there are some who believe that God only gets glory when he redeems people. But he also gets glory when he exercises his wrath.
Now, this portion of scripture is hard for us to bear. I mean, they were killed for burning the wrong kind of incense. And if that were all it was, it would seem so very wrong. But, it is in those seemingly non-consequential sins that man is so easily ensnared by. Humanity fell under a curse because Adam bit into a fruit. These were killed for offering unapproved incense. Uzzah died for touching the Ark.
But Adam didn't just eat the fruit. Adam disobeyed God, and brought a schism between heaven and earth. God told him what was going to happen, and Adam deliberately disobeyed God. Nadab and Abihu did the same exact thing. God told them how to do their job. And they did exactly what God told them not to do. Now, because the priests are a type of Christ, and are administering the sacrifices that are also foreshadowing Christ, this sort of insubordination cannot be tolerated. Beware of testing God, saying "will God really do what he said he would?"
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