n Leviticus 9, where Aaron, under God’s command, offers sacrifices that symbolize atonement and fellowship with God. The people, in awe, witness the glory of the LORD appearing to them, a fire consuming the offering on the altar, signifying God’s acceptance and presence among His people. This moment of divine approval and communal worship sets a high and holy standard for approaching God.
However, this story takes a somber turn in Leviticus 10. “Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, moved, but not by divine command, offer “strange fire” before the Lord—fire not authorized by God.” Leviticus 10:1
This act of self-will, contrary to God’s explicit instructions, results in their immediate death. It’s a stark and tragic reminder that the worship and service of God are not to be dictated by personal preferences or innovations but are to be guided strictly by His will.
Self-Will vs. God’s Will in Serving and Worshiping God
This incident sharply brings into focus the tension between self-will and God’s will, especially in the context of serving and worshiping God. In our eagerness to serve, we often fall into the trap of asking, “What do I want to do for God?”
This question, though seemingly innocent, subtly shifts the focus from God’s desires to our own.
The real question we should be asking is, “What does God want?”
This question reorients our perspective, aligning our will with God’s and ensuring that our service and worship are truly pleasing to Him. It’s about seeking His guidance and adhering to His commands, recognizing that He knows best how we should serve Him.
The story of Nadab and Abihu serves as a powerful lesson of the consequences of following our will instead of God’s. Their tragic end is a sobering reminder that our approach to God must be marked by humility, reverence, and obedience. It’s not about what we think is right or what we feel is a meaningful way to serve; it’s about what God has commanded and how He desires to be worshiped.
Jesus speaks to this very issue in the New Testament, telling us:“Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” Matthew 16:25
This principle, while directly applicable to salvation—surrendering our lives to Christ to find eternal life—also extends to other areas of our lives. It’s about laying down our desires, our plans, and our will at the feet of Jesus, trusting that His ways are better than ours.
In serving and worshiping God, losing our life means setting aside our preferences and inclinations to embrace God’s will. It means asking not what we want to do for God, but what God wants us to do for Him. This surrender, though it may feel like a sacrifice at first, leads to finding true life—a life marked by joy, fulfillment, and the pleasure of being in the center of God’s will.
The lesson of Nadab and Abihu is a poignant reminder of the importance of approaching God on His terms, not ours. As we reflect on their tragic ending, let us strive to serve and worship God in the manner He has prescribed, always seeking His will over our own. In doing so, we find not just the true meaning of service and worship but also the path to a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with our Creator.
