Strange Fire in The Tabernacle, dclm STS Children
LESSON 16
TEXT: Leviticus 10:1-20
Strange fire and Tabernacle are two important words in our topic that we need to understand.
(i) Strange fire – the word strange means something strange because the fire meant for sacred purposes was obtained elsewhere other than the altar of God.
(ii) Tabernacle means the movable tent or Temple which Moses erected according to the pattern God Himself showed him on the Mount.
Our God is a holy God and demands we serve Him in truth and holiness. He wants us to have a worthy walk with Him, worship Him with reverence and serve Him faithfully. Unsaved boys and girls cannot serve God acceptably because God hates their naughty behaviour and sins. God is unhappy with them and will punish them. Therefore, they must repent now and turn away from all sins.
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SOURCE OF STRANGE FIRE IN THE TABERNACLE.
Leviticus 10:1; 16:12,13; Exodus 24:1,9-11; Numbers 3:2,3
Nadab and Abihu were sons of Aaron the Priest. They were anointed and set apart as priests to serve in the Tabernacle of the Lord. There were clear instructions on how the service should be carried out. An offering of strange fire implies that they did not take the fire from the altar of the burnt offering to burn the incense; rather, they took the fire of their own making, to burn the incense. This is disobedience. They burnt the incense when they were not asked to do it.
There is a need to be orderly, wait for an appointment, and not force yourself into doing God’s service. Do not copy what is done in other places that are not commanded by the Bible. For example, their prayer and worship patterns. God is not pleased with such because they do not glorify Him. It is also wrong for children to run around or play on the altar or with the instruments used for worship purposes. The altar, church premises, and fellowship centers are holy places for worship. There should be quietness, respect and honour for such centres. Do not litter with wastes, neither handle the gadgets with carelessness. God is watching everything that we do when we gather to worship Him.
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SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR DISOBEDIENCE.
Leviticus 10:1-6; Exodus 30:9, 37, 38; Numbers 3:4; 26:61
The sin of Nadab and Abihu received immediate judgment. The Lord had warned them that making or burning a strange fire on the altar would attract the death penalty, but they refused to listen. So, a fire from the Lord devoured them and they died. God maintains a standard and is not a respecter of persons. In the last verse of the previous chapter (Leviticus 9:24), the fire from the Lord gave approval to the sacrifice made but, in our text, the reverse is the case. The fire from the Lord brought judgment which was instant death. Nadab and Abihu died. Other occasions in the Bible where judgment on sin and sinners was instant are:
(i) Korah, Dathan and Abiram-They rebelled against Moses the servant of God (Numbers 16:1-33).
(ii) Saul the first anointed king of Israel offered the sacrifice he was not expected to offer and was rejected by God-(1 Samuel 13:9-14).
(iii) Uzzah-Looked into and touched the ark of the covenant and he was struck dead (2 Samuel 6:7).
(iv) Uzziah the king- He became proud as a king and went to offer sacrifice at the altar. Then he became leprous (2 Chronicles 26:16-21).
(v) Ananias and Sapphira-They told lies against the Holy Ghost and died immediately (Acts 5:1-11).
(vi) King Herod – He was lifted up in his heart against God and was smitten by an angel and eaten up by worms (Acts 12:21-23). God demands our obedience in all He has commanded. Therefore, our service to Him must show obedience, love, and respect.
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SALVATION-THE WAY OF ESCAPE FROM GOD’S JUDGMENT.
Leviticus 10:6-20; Hebrews 2:3; 9:11-15; 2 Timothy 2:19
Aaron and his remaining sons Eleazar and Ithamar received special Instructions. They were not to show signs of mourning for Nadab and Abihin to remain in the Tabernacle. They were told not to drink wine or strong drinks and to put a difference between holy and unholy things, between clean and unclean things. Finally, they were to teach the children of Israel all the statutes of God as commanded by Moses.
God cannot accept a standard other than Hhis own. The standard lar anyone who desires to serve God is genuine salvation and holiness of life. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation...” (Hebrews 2:3a). The punishment for sin is eternal separation from God and eternity in hell-fire. The question is why would you die in sin when Jesus paid for your salvation on the cross? Today Jesus is calling you to come unto Him. Accept you are a sinner, confess your sins and ask Jesus for pardon and cleansing of all your sins. Ask Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Saviour. Believe you are now a child of God You are expected to:
(a) Pray, read, and meditate on the word of God.
(b) Have clean hands and a pure heart.
(e) Be honest and tell the truth always.
(d) Separate from bad friends and do not join those who have no regard for the holiness of life.
(e) Tell sinners about the love of Jesus in the Desire to grow spiritually and promote God’s righteous standard. God’s grace is enough to keep and help you to serve Him faithfully.
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW
- _________and _______________ offered strange fire in the Tabernacle.
- What was their punishment?
- Mention four people in the Bible who were punished because they disobeyed God or His servant.
- How can you escape God’s judgment?
- Mention six things’ friends of Jesus must do to make God happy.
MEMORY VERSE: “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not (Leviticus 10:1)
LESSON: Obedience is better than sacrifice
THOUGHT: I will honour, respect, and obey God always
ACTIVITY: Write out under each column what a friend of Jesus must do and must not do in God’s house.
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CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS: 47-JUST OBEY
CHORUSES:
(1) Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
(2) Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.
(3) Give me the grace to follow, abundant grace follows
HOMEWORK: Pray for grace to always obey God’s commandments.
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:
- Incense
- Generation
- Devour
- Diligence
- Atonement
