I was reading through the book of Leviticus last night. Most people think that is a very hard book of the Bible to get through. Leviticus talks about all the laws that the Israelites had to follow in order to continue to be acceptable before God. In the first few chapters it explains the great lengths in which Israel had to go in order to make restitution for their sins. If an Israelite sinned against God he would often have to sacrifice an animal so that he might continue to be clean before God. Another life would have to be taken so that he could keep on living. Fast forward a few thousand years to the time of Jesus. He had to die for all of our sins on a cross. It was painful for him, and for God for that matter. Jesus’ life was sacrificed so that we could keep living and not die before a righteous and just God.
Unfortunately, it would seem that the world as a whole does not fully acknowledge God as supreme ruler of the universe. He is in control of everything. He chooses when we are born and when we die. Yet we continue to sin and turn away from him and pretend like it’s really not that big of a deal that we slept with that person we are not married to or whatever. Leviticus 10:1-4 gives a good example of what God thinks of our sin, no matter how small or how great. (There are other examples of this but I’m just using Leviticus 10:1-3 because I read it last night and it’s still fresh in my mind.)
Leviticus 10:1-4
The Death of Nadab and Abihu
1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me
I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.’”
I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.’”
Aaron remained silent.
4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.
Now, you may think after reading this, how dreadful it is for God to just take the lives of people like that.
God righteously caused Nadab and Abihu to die because they had done something unpleasing in his sight. He used them as an example so that Israel and other people as well might not take sin so lightly.
If you think it is a big deal to take a life (which it is) guess what, it’s just as big a deal to sin against God.