By: Jed

Read: Numbers 2:1-3:51, Mark 11:27-12:17, Psalm 47:1-9, Proverbs 10:24-25

The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
(Numbers 3:2-4)

Relate: There are always things and places that are off limits in our lives. The most famous example would probably be area 51, where only a very small portion of very important people get to go. Personally, whenever I see something that says “Off Limits” or “Unauthorized Person Do Not Enter,” the more I’m curious about what’s behind it and the more I want to go in. Usually, they’re just rooms at the back of the supermarkets for stocking things. The most fun unauthorized place that I ever went into was a staircase that led to the roof of a building.

React: As fun as it is to break rules and explore things out of curiosity, there are certain limits that we just cannot cross. When it comes to sin, we should not even come close to the limits. Our God is a holy and perfect God, and he cannot stand any sin in his holy presence. Yes, our God is also loving and forgiving, but that only goes so far until there’s no point of return. Even if God does forgive you, which he will, there are still consequences from sin. As we can see here in Numbers, Nadab and Abihu were killed by God for making an offering to God with unauthorized fire. We cannot take the mercy and forgiveness God has given us for granted and we should always strive to be holy because God is holy.

Respond:

Dear God,
I ask that you will give me a heart that loves you and fears you. Please do not let me even think about crossing the line you have set before me and to abuse the mercy and forgiveness you have given me. I ask that you will be with me and help me to not wander away from your commands and decrees.
Amen