I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)]
Aaron’s four sons were priests and, in Leviticus 10, his oldest sons Nadab and Abihu offer incense to God in the Tabernacle. The incense symbolized the people’s prayers rising up to God and the coals used for burning it were to be taken from the altar of burnt offerings outside the sanctuary. Although priests were required to fulfill their duties precisely, Scripture tells us the two offered “strange” or “unauthorized” fire and were immediately consumed by fire from God!
In 2 Samuel, God severely punishes Uzzah for a different ritual error. After being stolen by the Philistines and recovered, the ark of the covenant had been in the house of Abinadab for 40 years. David gathered his men to return the ark to its rightful place in the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. Symbolizing God’s presence, it was God’s earthly throne and, like ritual incense, there were specific rules about the ark’s handling. To ensure it was treated with the proper reverence, the ark never was to be touched by any man. Rather than moving it on a cart, Levites were to carry it on poles. Nevertheless, the ark was loaded on a cart (as the Philistines had done when they returned it). When the oxen pulling it stumbled, Uzzah reached out to steady the ark as he would a piece of furniture and God immediately struck the man down for profaning it with his touch.
These stories are troubling and, as 21st century Christians, we wonder at such harsh punishment. After all, these men were trying to do the right thing, even though they did it incorrectly. Perhaps a closer look may help us better understand what happened.
Nadab and Abihu’s error was not that of inexperienced youth. Men of prestige and privilege, they joined Moses, Aaron, and seventy of Israel’s elders on Mount Sinai and had the honor of seeing the living God and eating a covenant meal with Him. Nevertheless, the brothers failed to take their priestly duties seriously and follow God’s law absolutely. The “strange” or “unauthorized” fire could mean the live coals were not taken from the proper altar or were offered at the wrong time. Only a few verses later, however, Aaron’s two remaining sons are told never to consume any alcoholic drink before entering the tabernacle and it’s possible the older brothers were intoxicated. Whether out of ignorance, heedlessness, or disobedience, the “unauthorized” fire used by Nadab and Abihu profaned the Lord’s sanctuary and God took their lives for failing to respect His holiness!
As for Uzzah’s death. Uzzah was the son of Abinadab. After seeing the ark in his father’s house for decades, perhaps the gold-plated chest became commonplace and more like a piece of furniture than a sacred object to be revered. Moreover, Scripture only tells us that the oxen stumbled, not that the cart tipped or the ark was falling. Did Uzzah not trust that the Lord would protect His ark? Like Nadab and Abihu, Uzzah meant no harm. But, like those men, he knew the law and broke it. His touch offended God because it brought impurity into His presence.
The people of Israel encountered God in the tabernacle or temple so keeping His “home” and the ark free of sin’s contamination is understandable but, as Christ followers, what do these stories mean to us? The sins of Uzzah, Nadab, and Abihu were those of irreverence and disregard toward God. Are we much different? Sometimes I think we forget that our friendship with the Lord is not that of equals! He is our Lord and Master. Rather than pals, we are His servants and it is our privilege to serve Him. Could our familiarity with Him ever cause us to become blasé or disrespectful? Are we ever on auto-pilot when we worship? Do we ever take Communion without the proper reverence and time of introspection? Do we fail to honor God with rushed or half-hearted prayer? Have we become lax in our Bible study? Have we lost our fear of God—our reverence and awe for the Lord? True worship takes place in our hearts—the dwelling place of God. Are we always a “holy and acceptable” sacrifice or do we ever allow sin’s contamination to soil our heart so that it no longer is a place fit for our King?
Devotions of the Heart 