Joel M Bradshaw

1The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. 3With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.–1 Chronicles 24

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.  And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:1-3)

1. The chronicler wanted to make sure that the record of the priesthood got recorded and established.
2. Don’t sleep on the Nadab and Abihu story from Leviticus 10.
3. God provided the fire for the sacrifice, and the priests tried to stay some of God’s glory by providing fire of their own.
4. So they literally got consumed by a flaming fire jet from God.
5. They were the original crispy critters!
6. The priests hd to be sons of Aaron (Exodus 30:30), so things had to fall to the younger sons.
7. Even the priests have to take worship of God seriously! That moment would have shocked the nation. You and I have to take the things of God seriously, too.–JMB