Leviticus 10:1-20


There are constant reminders all through Scripture that leadership is a very dangerous blessing.  Certainly it is a great blessing to be given the opportunity to lead and serve others before the Lord.  However, it is a very dangerous position as James reminds us that leaders will face a greater judgment.  Leaders are given much opportunity therefore they are required to serve with a greater responsibility.  It is a very serious thing when anyone sins, but when a leader sins the consequences are usually very grave and far reaching.  All leaders must recognize this responsibility before the Lord.

GOD STRIKES DOWN AARON’S IRREVERANT SONS: Two of Aaron’s sons burned incense before the Lord using what is called strange fire.  It is not readily clear what kind of fire this was, but the fire for burning this incense was to be taken from the altar.  They obviously did not follow the instructions that they were given in this task, rather they disobeyed and took their responsibility as priests before the Lord lightly.  This irreverent act in the presence of God cost them their lives.  God had told them how they were to worship Him and represent His people before Him and they made a mockery out of His command and the holy place that God had prepared for the purpose of worship.  It is very important that we learn to obey God and worship Him in the manner that He has prescribed and not according to our own understanding.  He has made it very clear that we are to come before Him by faith in the work of Christ on our behalf.  We do not have the liberty of choosing how we will come before God.  We must follow the way that He has revealed and not treat the sacrifice of His Son in a flippant or irreverent manner.

AARON AND HIS FAMILY ARE PROHIBITED FROM MOURNING: Moses commanded that the bodies of Aaron’s sons be taken outside of the camp and buried, but Moses told Aaron not to mourn their deaths publicly.  Tearing his clothing and weeping might have been seen as a sort of protest against the righteous judgment of God.  We must always remember that God is just and that whatever He does is always right.  Aaron and his son’s were to mourn in private while the rest of the congregation reflected on that which God had done.  Certainly the people would have responded with fear and reverence before God.  We may not always understand the way that God deals with us, but we must always trust that whatever He does is right.  We are not in a place to doubt the goodness or the righteousness of God.  It is our job to worship Him; not question Him.

MOSES AND AARON CONFRONT ONE ANOTHER: There were certain sacrifices that Aaron and his family were given to eat as part of God’s provision for them.  This food was to be eaten in a special place.  There were other offerings that were to be offered in their entirety.  Apparently Moses thought that Aaron should have eaten an offering that he burned.  Moses confronted Aaron on this and Aaron explained his reasoning for not eating the sacrifice as he thought that it would be displeasing to the Lord for him to do so.  It is not clear to me exactly who was correct in their interpretation.  Moses seems satisfied with Aaron’s response, but it is clear that the intention of Aaron’s heart was correct.  His mistake was not one of rebellion if indeed there was a mistake.  Moses and Aaron demonstrate for us the importance of clear and direct communication.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 1:3-7

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not   to teach any different doctrine,   nor   to devote themselves to myths and endless   genealogies, which promote   speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.    The aim of our charge is love   that issues from a pure heart and   a good conscience and   a sincere faith.    Certain persons, by   swerving from these, have wandered away into   vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law,   without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.   There will always be false teachers that come into the church attempting to distract people from the truth and destroy people’s faith.  When this happens, it is the job of spiritually mature leaders to confront these false teachers and correct their teachings.  However, it is important that this correction be accomplished with the right motives and methods. 
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more