One of the most sobering lessons in Scripture comes from the account of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who were struck dead for offering strange fire before the Lord. Their story is a warning to every believer: God is holy, and He cannot be approached on our own terms.
The Biblical Account
Leviticus 10:1–2 (KJV)
“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.
And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”
At first glance, their action might seem small—after all, they were priests serving in the tabernacle. But God immediately judged them, because what they offered was unauthorized, unsanctioned, and outside of His divine order.
What is Strange Fire?
Strange fire represents:
1. Unauthorized Worship – Doing spiritual things God has not commanded.
2. Self-Initiated Zeal – Serving God out of personal ambition or emotion, rather than obedience.
3. Polluted Motives – Worship mixed with pride, carnality, or hidden sin.
4. Counterfeit Spirituality – Substituting human invention, worldly methods, or demonic influence in place of the Spirit of God.
It is possible to look spiritual, yet be offering God what He did not require. Strange fire is not just about incense—it is about disobedience at the altar of worship.
Why Does Strange Fire Attract God’s Judgment?
God’s response to Nadab and Abihu shows that worship is sacred. We cannot treat His presence casually.
• God’s Holiness Cannot Be Compromised
Leviticus 10:3 (KJV)
“I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.”
• God Requires Obedience, Not Innovation
1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV)
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
• God Resists False Worship
Jesus warned in Matthew 15:8–9 (KJV):
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Strange fire attracts judgment because it dishonors God, misleads His people, and violates His covenant order.
Modern Forms of Strange Fire
Though we no longer offer incense in censers, believers today can still offer strange fire in many ways:
• Preaching for fame, money, or manipulation rather than God’s glory.
• Worship that entertains men but does not honor God.
• Substituting human wisdom or occult practices in place of the Holy Spirit.
• Living in secret sin while trying to minister publicly.
• Offering prayer or service in hypocrisy, without faith or obedience.
The Call to True Worship
Jesus told the Samaritan woman:
John 4:23–24 (KJV)
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
True worship must be in line with:
• The Spirit – led by the Holy Spirit, not fleshly impulses.
• The Truth – rooted in God’s Word, not human invention.
Guarding Against Strange Fire
1. Walk in Obedience – Never substitute zeal for submission.
2. Check Your Motives – God weighs the heart, not just the action.
3. Stay Under Divine Order – Don’t bypass God’s set authority.
4. Depend on the Holy Spirit – Anything not born of Him cannot please God.
5. Keep Your Vessel Pure – God’s fire dwells in clean temples.
A Solemn Warning and Encouragement
Nadab and Abihu remind us that God’s presence is holy. The same fire that consumes sacrifice in worship can also consume the worshipper if offered wrongly. But God has made a way through Jesus Christ, our High Priest, who brings us near by His blood.
Hebrews 12:28–29 (KJV)
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For our God is a consuming fire.”
Prayer
Lord, search my heart and cleanse me from every strange fire. Deliver me from worship that comes from self, sin, or pride. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit, and let my service be acceptable in Your sight. May my life be a sweet-smelling sacrifice unto You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Message Bearer, Cornelius Bella
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