As we read stories like this, we develop an idea that, “the God of the Old Testament,” is vengeful. But God, in this seeming radical act, is showing love and consistency. God’s nature is love, and God doesn’t deviate.
There are several features in this passage which help us: First, the sin of these two priests was not one of ignorance but one of presumption. They knew better. It wasn’t that they were simply doing something at which they had no idea God would be offended. They had been told emphatically that God would be offended (Exodus 30:7-9). So this was a violation of the direct command of God.
Second, this sin was dealt with severely because it distorted God’s Self-revelation. In these priestly sacrifices and rituals, God is revealing Himself so that we might learn what kind of God He is. But, by their disobedience, these priests were teaching wrong concepts about the person of God. That is why God judged them.
Third, this judgment is exemplary. God made an example of them this once and He never does this again. This is not something that happened every time a priest violated any regulation. It only happened once—at the beginning of the priesthood. We will read that, later on in the priesthood of Israel, the priests did many very terrible things before the altar, but God never killed them for it. But it is important that it happened at least this one time. For this is an example and therefore it is a manifestation of God’s love and concern. God is trying to stop this kind of thing from happening again, and God is giving fair warning of the eventual consequences to anyone presumptuous enough to sin deliberately in this way.
Are we carelessly offering a pretense of worship to God? Today, we must commit ourselves to offering God worship that honors and delights God.
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