Nahab and Abuhu
So let’s talk about strange fire. That moment in Leviticus where everything comes to a full stop and two of Moses’ brother, Aaron’s boys—Nadab and Abihu—drop dead. And not because someone shot an arrow or they tripped on holy furniture. Nope. YHWH Elohim Himself sent fire out and consumed them. That’s the kind of judgment that shuts your mouth real quick.
Did you ever read that story and go, “Wait—what did they do that was so bad?!” Because if we’re being honest, on the surface, it doesn’t sound like they built an idol or cursed God or led a rebellion. All they did was bring some incense into the Tabernacle… and boom—they’re dead. And if we’re really honest, sometimes people try to soften it. “Oh, they just made a mistake.” But God doesn’t kill priests over a mistake.
Let’s go see exactly what happened, and then let the Word do its work on our own hearts too. it’s important to look at the original language (here it’s Hebrew) to get to the truth of the matter. This is Leviticus 10:1–2:
“Vayyikchu benei-Aharon Nadav va-Avihu ish machtato, vayitnu vahem esh vayasimu aleha ketoret, vayakrivu lifnei YHWH esh zarah asher lo tzivah otam.”
“Then Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his censer, put fire in it, and placed incense on it, and brought before YHWHʾesh zarah—strange fire, which He had not commanded them.”
Then verse 2 says:
“Vatetze esh milifnei YHWH vatokhal otam vayamutu lifnei YHWH.”
“And fire went out from before YHWH and devoured them, and they died before YHWH.”
Now hang on—this was on the very day they were being ordained as priests! This wasn’t just any ol’ moment. This was the very first official worship service ever done in the Tabernacle! In fact, one chapter earlier, in Leviticus 9:24, God Himself had just lit the altar with fire from heaven. His glory filled the place, and all the people shouted and fell on their faces.
And right after that? Nadab and Abihu walk in and bring their own fire.
That’s what made it “strange.” That Hebrew word zarahdoesn’t mean spooky or mysterious. It means unauthorized, foreign, uninvited. They brought a fire from some other source than what God had lit. And that’s not just “oops.” That’s bringing the common into the presence of the qadosh—the holy.
So think this through. God had just kindled holy fire from His own presence to start the altar. That flame was sacred. It was the only fire acceptable for sacrifices, incense, anything to do with the holy place. And here come Nadab and Abihu—new robes, censers in hand, and they decide, “Let’s just use this other fire.” Maybe it was convenient. Maybe it was a shortcut. Maybe it looked the same. But it wasn’t from God.
And that’s what cost them their lives.
Because here’s the heart of it: God isn’t looking for creativity in worship. He’s looking for obedience.
The fire you bring better be His.
Now don’t miss the timing here. God had just established the priesthood through Aaron. This was a sacred moment—He’s setting a precedent. Like laying a cornerstone. If the priests go off-script now, what message does that send to all Israel? That you can just make up your own way to approach God?
No. The fire of YHWH had to make it absolutely clear:
“I will be sanctified in those who draw near to Me, and before all the people I will be glorified.”(Leviticus 10:3)
He’s saying, “If you come near Me, you come on My terms.”
And right after this, the very next thing He tells Aaron in verse 9 is this:
“Do not drink wine or strong drink… when you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die.”
Now that’s no side-note. God isn’t switching topics. That’s a direct hint about what was really going on here. Nadab and Abihu likely weren’t just using the wrong fire—they were probably under the influence. Drunk, careless, staggering into the presence of the Most High like it was a bonfire at camp.
That’s not just foolish—that’s profane.
Because this is not entertainment. This is the God of all creation dwelling in the midst of His people. And He didn’t ask for jazzed-up incense or emotional displays. He asked for obedient priests who treat His presence like the treasure it is.
So let’s bring this forward a little.
What’s “strange fire” today?
It’s not incense and censers anymore. You and I don’t have a golden altar to approach. But we do have worship. We do have pulpits. We have prayer meetings. We have sermons and music and offerings and “ministry” and livestreams and stage lights and declarations. And if we’re not careful, we start offering things God never asked for.
We start mixing human effort with holy things.
We bring entertainment instead of reverence.
We preach for applause. We sing for applause.
We use emotional hype instead of the power of the Spirit.
That is strange fire.
Worship that comes from the flesh—even if it feels passionate—is still foreign fire if it wasn’t born of God’s Spirit and in obedience to His Word. Doesn’t matter if it sounds good. Doesn’t matter if the church is packed. Doesn’t matter if it “gets results.” If it isn’t what God told us to bring, it’s not holy.
And you know what scares me more than anything?
He doesn’t always send fire out to kill people like He did back then.
Sometimes He just lets the strange fire burn.
Lets the church grow.
Lets the crowd cheer.
Lets people think they’re anointed.
And nobody realizes the glory already departed.
That’s the deeper judgment.
Because at least Nadab and Abihu were made an example. But today, some folks offer strange fire for years—and never know they’ve been doing “ministry” in the dark.
So if you’re reading this, don’t let that happen to you.
Ask yourself: Is the fire I’m offering His fire? Or am I bringing my own?
Because YHWH still sends fire. The only question is:
Will it consume us like it did Nadab and Abihu?
Or will it fill us like it did the believers in Acts 2?
Because that fire came from the same God. But this time, it didn’t kill.
It rested.
Tongues of fire rested on heads that had waited in obedience. Men and women who had surrendered. Who didn’t rush the moment. Who didn’t stir up anything. They waited. They received the fire God chose to send.
That’s the only kind of fire that belongs in the holy place.
So let this be a word to all of us who serve, who teach, who worship, who draw near:
Don’t ever play with the holy. Don’t ever bring your own flame into God’s sanctuary.
Let the fire you bring be the one He lit.
And let your worship come from a place of trembling joy, not performance.
Because we’re not here to impress people.
We’re here to stand before the presence of the Most High, who said:
“Be holy, for I am holy.”
No substitutes.
No shortcuts.
No strange fire.
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