Fire Can Be Warm, But It Can Also Burn

      Reading through this Torah portion, especially chapters 9 and 10, leaves one a bit dizzy. We find ourselves on an emotional roller coaster. Chapter 9 is glorious. After the Tabernacle itself was consecrated (dedicated) in Exodus 40, the people who ministered in it, the priests themselves, needed to be consecrated. The dedication ceremony was very elaborate. Aaron and his sons had to cleanse themselves physically (washing themselves with water) and spiritually (offering a sin/purification offering). Also, Aaron and his sons showed that they were dedicating themselves to the L‑rd's service by bringing a burnt offering. Moses anointed them with a special oil that included spices: cinnamon, myrrh, cane, and cassia. Aaron and his sons gave off a fragrant aroma, but along with the oily anointing there was a spiritual anointing. 

      Next, it was Aaron's turn to "go through his paces" as the new high priest. He offered sacrifices on behalf of the people and pronounced the blessing over them. He and Moses went into the tent (Tabernacle) and pow: "...the glory of the L‑rd appeared to all the people. Fire came from the presence of the L‑rd and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar," (9:23, 24a). When was the last time any of us saw the glory of the L‑rd displayed like that? No wonder the people of Israel shouted for joy and fell down on their faces. Wouldn't you? 

      Shortly afterwards, another fire came out from the presence of G‑d. This time it consumed not the animal sacrifices, but the offerors themselves—Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. It is enough to make a person nervous! The L‑rd through Moses gave a cryptic statement: "Among those who approach Me I will show Myself holy; in the sight of the people I will be honored," (10:3). 

      Evidently, this is what Aaron's sons failed to do. The scriptural account states that they brought "strange or unauthorized" fire before the L‑rd. In other words, they came to minister before the L‑rd when He did not invite them in. The rabbis explained that they may have been drunk, since the instructions that the L‑rd gave afterwards specifically forbade the priests from drinking wine before they came into the Tabernacle. 

            What lesson(s) can we draw from this? We desire to experience more intimacy with the L‑rd, yet we need to remember that our L‑rd is "a consuming fire," (Hebrews 12:29). He is a holy G‑d who demands that we be serious about sin. This is particularly true of those who serve in leadership capacity, who are held accountable to a higher set of standards (James 3:1). This should not intimidate us but help us maintain a holy respect for our holy G‑d.