Leviticus 10:3 "And Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy, and before all the people I must be glorified.'"
Reading the first two verses is important for context. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, offered profane fire before the LORD. He hadn't commanded what they did, and he killed them. These are presidents God set so the people would take him seriously. We see that set in the Church, New Testament age with Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, in Acts 5. We don't see God acting in such ways or as obvious today. Yet we know as a prescription of Scripture, he continues to demand that His children regard Him as holy.
For some reason, many believe God gets his way in every situation in life. I say he does not. Do you think God wanted to kill these men who were his representation before all of Israel? Of course, he did not want to. The passage says, "... and offered profane fire to the LORD, which He had not commanded them." God's Sovereignty is not threatened because we can disobey and go against what he wants for us. It does mean because he is the Sovereign over the world, he gets to set the consequences for our lack of obedience. He showed that power and authority with these two sons of Aaron. Men who were Priest before the LORD.
God is looking for simple and exclusive loyalty. After such a quick and consequential loss, he tested Aaron. Moses communicated to Aaron that was not allowed to mourn at that moment. "Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes..." These were signs of sorrow and mourning. Aaron and many in Israel were told their respect should be for God and not the lack of obedience for which his sons died. Aaron's simple and exclusive loyalty to God won the moment, "And they did according to the word of (the LORD)." It was Moses who directed him, but it came from the LORD. In this grievous moment, Aaron and the people respected God in such a way they did not even cry out for fear of the LORD and the power displayed.
Something in life must offer us an understanding of the magnitude of the fear of the LORD. This something helps us to bring our lives into what it means to regard God as holy. God's Word offers us these real-life stories, so we grasp the holiness of God. In most assemblies that meet on Sundays, it is not taught. Sadly much of what we call worship doesn't offer this. We come out of service on Sundays, usually only considering how much God loves us but very little of what he requires from us. There's little understanding of the simple and exclusive loyalty he demands from His children.
If you think it's different with Jesus, that he's so less demanding, then why does he ask in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Even more in John 14:15-24, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." Jesus demands the same as His Father, simple and exclusive loyalty.
Our faith makes a demand of us. It is not about an absentminded belief that keeps us living how we choose. Faith must change us. In Scripture, Jesus is called Lord and Savior. In Romans 10:9-10 we are told to "confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Confessing Him as Lord is to trade loyalties from one King to another. Lord means master. To say you are saved is to no longer belong to yourself to live life your way. This is not new to us; this began with Adam and Eve; they chose the fruit, not obeying God. Nadab and Abihu chose profane fire, not obeying God. We can read stories between these two and see this happening historically again and again. It does not need to be; there are Abel, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and many more, not perfect men, but men who lived to regard God as Holy. Their examples are written in the same text as those who fell to the appetites of the flesh.
God does not demand what is impossible for us to carry out. His grace is ready to step into an available life that humbles itself before Him. We can choose obedience daily. We can ask God to fill us with such awe for Him that we indeed come to understand His Holiness in a way that it hurts to think of profaning His holiness. This comes from knowing Him through His Word. What he asks for is not beyond our ability to obey. We have a beautiful promise from Jesus. When we desire to love him obediently, to offer Him simple and exclusive loyalty, here's His promise, John 14:15-24 "If you love me, Keep my commandments... He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me... If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him."
Just think a similar promise was made to Nadab and Abihu if you read Exodus 19. In that chapter, God wanted to make a mixed multitude a particular people who represented him through a simple and exclusive loyalty. He wanted to make his abode with them. These two men had the same opportunity we have today to become God's special obedient children. They chose profane fire, and God could not have that. Mourning them and their disobedience could not be chosen over standing before a Holy God.
The story may seem difficult to accept, but we must understand God has not changed. He still demands simple and exclusive loyalty from those who call Him Lord. He offers so much in return. Plus, here is the key found in 1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." Loving him is examined by how laborious it feels to serve Him. It could be the indicator of a genuine relationship or one in danger. It should be easy to love God if He is your King. He is a good King. Yet, He accepts nothing less than a simple and exclusive loyalty. That is proven on our part by being on fire for him, not burning profane fire.
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