1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
My children, like many, have chores around the house they’re responsible for. Now, with these chores, I’ve given them very specific instructions on how to complete each one. I don’t expect them to be able to carry out these jobs without having been instructed on what to do. Well, one day my daughter was watering the plants in the house when she decided to veer from her instructions and water some that were NOT on her list. As a result, I almost lost a few delicate plants that couldn’t tolerate the extra water. This was disappointing. Not because I may have to toss out a few dead plants, but because there was a lack of following directions, a disobedience. When she decides to take matters into her own hands and have the mind that she knows what’s best, then we start to have problems. This is a small matter that can easily be fixed, in fact, she felt bad after seeing what her extra efforts did to those plants. However, what does this look like on a larger scale?
Well, let’s take a look at Nadab and Abihu. These were the two eldest sons of the high priest, Aaron. They were chosen by God to represent the people in the presence of God and tasked with very specific instructions on how to give sacrifices, worship, and glorify God. They had a major role in carrying out the sacrifices for sin on behalf of the people. One day, while one of the sacrifices were being given, the glory of the Lord shown down and he sent his fire to consume the acceptable sacrifice. The people fell on their faces in awe! Now, Nadab and Abihu decided in themselves to take their censor and add incense and light it with their own (or strange) fire to offer the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). Do you see what just happened here? The men made a decision outside of Gods direction and took it upon themselves to give what was not asked or required of them. The Lord sent out His fire once again, but this time it consumed Nadab and Abihu. This may seem like an over reaction, but do not be mistaken, the Lord will not allow sin and disobedience in His presence. It cannot exist where He is, plain and simple! (Leviticus 10:3). These priests had a job and the moment they placed themselves in a position to overrule God, they were removed. Their action, if left unchecked, could have resulted in many, many deaths. If the people witnessed this and thought they could know better than the Lord, they would have condemned themselves. Sin in our life results in death, much like the extra water given to those plants. The Lord wanted to preserve His people! He had to have them witness the striking down of disobedience and sin in front of Him.
Lord, help us to know our place and to remember the lives of these two men and the result of thinking we know better than you. That when we feel a need to pick up our censors and light a sacrifice that has not been asked of us, we stop and seek you first for instruction and direction. Like my daughter, in our efforts to take matters into our own hands outside of you, we may in fact end up doing more harm than good. May we always put obedience above sacrifice.
