How Do You Approach God?

What happens to people who think they can do whatever they please and think that it pleases God. In the case of Aaron’s oldest sons, they thought they could please God but instead it caused their death. God had made everything perfectly clear on how and when the sacrifices were to be done. But the two sons were disobedient by trying to make an unauthorized sacrifice.

But Nadav and Avihu, sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and offered unauthorized fire before Adonai, something he had not ordered them to do. At this, fire came forth from the presence of Adonai and consumed them, so that they died in the presence of Adonai. Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Adonai said:
‘Through those who are near me I will be consecrated,
and before all the people I will be glorified.’” Leviticus 10:1-3

God’s Consuming Fire

God is a Jealous, Demanding, Disciplinarian who is filled with all-consuming Love and Compassion for His people. He is Protector, Healer, Father. We fear Him and Love Him with a fervent desire to be with Him and He with us. When we disobey or think we are doing right even though we are not, God is displeased and He does not hesitate to let us know. 

Theory: The Sons Could Have Been Drunk

By verse eight, The Lord was speaking to Aaron and it could have been to warn against being intoxicated in God’s presence.

 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 10 You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses.” Leviticus 10:8-12

It is possible the sons had over celebrated and thought they were supposed to do what they did. My guess is that they had clouded their thoughts with the strong drink that God warned Aaron about above. God also speaks of distinguishing between the things of God and the things of the world to give God the proper respect.

To be in God’s presence one must have a clear mind in order to hear and feel God’s Word.

Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. Leviticus 9:22-24

The statute of having a clear mind away from alcohol was probably in place prior to this but it was cemented in because the of the sons.

What can we learn from this little episode outside of what has been spoken? Since God desires a personal relationship with us we cannot have it clouded by things of this world that would distort His Word and presence in our lives. God tells us to keep His Word on (and in) our hearts and minds so that we will be level headed and prepared to listen when we pray to Him. All those little details of troubles and praises that we take to God in prayer should be spoken and set aside so we are not disrupted by them when God answers. If we continue to dwell on the negatives the only thing we get is the negative. If we focus on the positives we run the risk of the positive becoming a negative. If we focus on God then we will be able to discern His guidance for us.

The same goes for when we enter any house of worship or gathering of God fearing brothers and sisters. Leave the world outside so that our focus is on God. Are we all guilty of this? Yes. It is something we must work on by keeping the things of the world (i.e. football or any sport, news, gossip, etc.) outside the presence when worshiping so the focus is on God.

As we continue to strive for a Christ like life let us remember that we cannot let the world get in the way no matter what. The problem is that the world is mostly unavoidable with bills, man- made laws, and taxes, but there are things that are in our control. We put things and words into our bodies that affect our physical and mental health. When these are down so is our spirit. Do be watchful and take care to be the humble/faithful servant/caretaker we are designed to be.

In His Embrace,

Rob, Servant of The Father