Nadab and Abihu
August 4, 2002
Dear Friends,
Leviticus 16:1-2 gives us a hint that in the beginning of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, the High Priest had full access to the Most Holy Place and the Ark of the Covenant. It states “…the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” In other words, it can be assumed by the phrase “at all times” that up until the time of Nadab and Abihu’s sin of offering strange fire, the high priest would have had access continually to the Most Holy Place. In place of this continual access, the Day of Atonement was instituted where the priests only had access one day per year to the Holiest of Holies.
It appears from Leviticus 9 and 10 (the chapter break being an artificial break in the action) that this consuming fire came on the VERY FIRST DAY of Nadab and Abihu’s ministration before the Lord. They spent seven days secluded inside of the Tabernacle as part of their preparation. Their very first day on the job, so to speak, found them terminated in the most literal and tragic way thus barring this priestly order from continual Most Holy access. It is highly symbolic that the Aaronic priesthood was not originally barred from continual access to the Most Holy. It was on account of sin that this way was thwarted. For a system whose primary objective was to demonstrate the sinfulness and inevitability of sin, there could not be a more fitting start. The flesh and its results are clearly and dramatically demonstrated.
The reason that this is worth mentioning is that the writer to the Hebrews makes several points which are even more poignant with this bit of additional information.
First, the priesthood of Christ was not limited by sin. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Jesus, in living a sinless life, reopened the way that had been closed by sin. The barrier erected by man’s sin in the Garden to their God was confirmed in the fleshly priesthood of Aaron, but opened by the blood of Jesus Christ. Aaron’s sons died because of sin thus barring access to God while Jesus died without sin thus opening the way to God. While the sin of Nadab and Abihu closed off access to the Most Holy Place except once a year on the Day of Atonement, Jesus entered once and stayed forever. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:” (Heb 9:24) We need not wait to approach unto God as did the men of Israel, but can access God through our High Priest whenever we pray in his name. Lord willing, we will examine this further in our next installment.
Have a great week!
Kyle
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