But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Numbers 3:4a
I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today 3:1-4, the sons of Aaron as the Lord prepares to describe their duties as part of the priesthood. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.
- What do we learn from the text God?: God ordains specific people into the priesthood, and while in the New Testament, Jesus serves as the Great High Priest (see Hebrews 4:14-16) and believers can approach Him with confidence and go directly to God, specific individuals are called to serve in the priesthood as part of the church. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 describe the attributes of those in the priesthood.
- What do we learn from the text about people?: The text repeats Leviticus 10:1-2 where Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire when not commanded to by the Lord. "[F]ire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD." Nadab and Abihu are described as having no children in v4, so the remain sons of Aaron served in the priesthood. In the Old Testament, ceremonial law was carefully followed. What is interesting here is that Nadab and Abihu are far from the only ones who did not carefully follow ceremonial law by either commission or omission. During Jesus' ministry, Jewish leadership accused Jesus of breaking laws based on what they added to the law, With the new covenant with Jesus, through His shed blood, Jesus fulfilled the law and did away with ceremonial law. The moral law remains and first and foremost God requires our heart as the most important commandments (see Matthew 22:37-40) to love Him, then to love others.
- Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not add to or subtract to the law neither for your own benefit or for the benefit or harm (judgement) of someone else. Claim the promise that God cares about your heart - He desires mercy not sacrifice and that Jesus fulfilled the law so that we can approach Him confidently and directly without the need for a priest (or a sacrifice) on our behalf. Obey the moral law - most importantly to love God and love others.
My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such blessings. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
