Day 21 in the Wilderness: Watch out for wildfire.

Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Wild fires destroy thousands of structures in the United States each year. In fact, tens of thousands of structures have been destroyed since 2005. Indeed, all over the world, wildfires are responsible for immeasurable destruction each year. Structures are burned, forests consumed, people displaced,

along with a host of other devastating consequences of wildfires. And—once a wildfire gets started—it can be very difficult to contain.

The fire thought to be the longest lasting on record was the Chinchaga Fire started in a logging slash (woody debris created by logging operations) in British Columbia, Canada, on June 1, 1950. It grew out of control and didn’t end until five months later on October 31 in Alberta. In that period of time, it burned approximately 3 million acres of boreal forest (snow forests).

Yes, fire is an awesome phenomenon. And, it is useful in myriad ways, but is destructive and deadly when uncontrolled.

It’s interesting to note that the power of God is compared to fire many times throughout the Bible. Look what Jesus said about His own work:

““I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:49‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God is referenced as being a devouring fire.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:28-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We see that the Holy Spirit is likened to fire.

“Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In our time in the wilderness with the children of Israel, we have seen that God would appear to them in fire by night.

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And, the Lord brought fire down with Him on Mount Sinai.

“The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭24:9 NKJV

However, in our opening scripture today, we see described a type of fire of which the Lord will have no part. Yes, it is that kind of fire we started out discussing: wildfire. The sons of Aaron, for whatever reason (presumption? drunkenness?),

chose to take wildfire into the tabernacle. It was wildfire because it was not done in accordance with obedience to the Lord. They paid for this lapse with their lives.

Moses explained to Aaron why the Lord had done this:

“And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ ” So Aaron held his peace.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now, just before Nadab and Abihu did what they did, they had seen the people’s reaction to the coming forth of the fire of the Lord:

“and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭9:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I think it’s possible that Aaron’s sons wanted to see the same type of reaction from the people for themselves. But, whatever the case, God would have none of it.

God’s fire is holy. His power, His Spirit, must be reverenced. We should never strike out to light a fire He has not commanded and ordained; for, in so doing, we may end up being burned.

For today write this in your “wilderness journal”:

Watch out for wildfire.

#40daysinthewilderness