Hi Nate- It makes me wonder if Nadab and Abihu did this by mistake. That they really didn't understand what they were told to do. Or, did they do this to "test" God. To see what would happen. And then in 10:3 Moses speaks to Aaron and it says that Aaron held his peace. It was as if Aaron "knew" that if he said anything about what happened that God would do the same to him. I also feel that God is a lot more tolerent of us now adays then he was back in the old testament times. Makes me wonder when we read Psalms and David seems to always be reminding God of things. Is that why?
God is as tolerant today as He ever was. He does not change.
It's really important to realize that God does not change - ever. He is the same in the OT as the NT.
In the Book of Revelation, when Jesus comes as King of kings and Lord of lords, He will be the judge, separating sheep from goats, and most will be destroyed.
God knows the heart. He knows the difference between an unintentional sin and an intentional sin. He knows the difference between an error, a mistake in judgment, even a sinful act of ignorance, from a sin that originates from an attitude of defiance and arrogance toward Him.
We don't know what God knows, and that is why some of the things He does seem strange to us. Memorize Isaiah 55:8-9. But it is very important to believe that God is 100% good, 100% just, 100% fair and 100% gracious, and we are not to judge God's actions or motives. We are very poor judges because of our sinful natures.
Any man, at any time, including today or tomorrow, who sins arrogantly and defiantly toward God deserves immediate punishment from God; from Jesus. God does not change. And men continually sin against Him intentionally.
Now just because they do sin intentionally does not mean God will kill them as He did for Nadab and Abihu, but He would be 100% justified in doing so. You should note that He also killed Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 for defiant sin.
The fact is: God is gracious and allows men to sin against Him in that way. He allowed evil men to kill Him on the cross. What we learn in the Scriptures is that God is perfectly justified in taking the life of one who sins arrogently against Him, and we have many in our culture, even Christians and Christian leaders, who sin intentionally against Him. But usually, He does not kill men for this kind of sin. God is gracious, and His mercy endures forever.
One last thing: I truly believe that any person, even Nadab and Abihu, who sins arrogantly against God, if he truly confessed and repented of his sin, and believed in Christ, will be forgiven and eternally saved, and we will see that person in heaven. He may be killed in the body, but his soul will be saved.
Yes, I do believe God is 100% Good,100% Just, 100% Fair and 100% Gracious. I know that he is there and close to us. It is cool to think that there still may be a chance to talk to Nadab and Abihu and find out what was going on in their minds at that time. I was thinking that there may never be a way of knowing what they were thinking. Thanks Nate, for having this Blog for people like me with lots of questions and having someone there to help with them. Stacie
I think Stacie has a point and I am having the same trouble distinguishing the difference between the OT God and the NT God. It's as if I'm reading about two different....oh...oops... where do I go with this one?? (grin) I think it is a mater of perspective - at least I hope it is. The history of the time would demand a very strong portrayal of God so that His people would listen and obey and stay healthy and worship and lead a good life according to those laws. They would also support their priest, who was wise in the ways of god and God's laws. (i.e., sacrifices are for God, but the priest has to eat also. The laws we've been reading are very strong and very specific in a time when people needed that for health reasons and order, as it was a time of almost anarchy with tribes fighting and seeking power (note - much as it is in the Middle East today). They still need to be strong, but Jesus came to us at a time when law and order was slightly more organized, and was able to present to us the kind and benevolent but equally law-giving God. I'm especially glad that God does not come down and set me on fire when I goof, be it knowingly or un-knowingly. And I promise not to eat shrimp.
If you think God was harsh in the OT, but kind in the NT, wait until we read Revelation. You will see Him in a different light. He never changes. We are the ones who change.
Here is a basic question you seem to be asking: Is man different from the past to the present, and will he be different in the future? This is hard to answer because we were not there in the past, and we only see the present in a narrow focus. Furthermore, we live in America where freedom is the norm. And today, if we lived in some parts of Africa, the Middle East, North Korea, or China for examples, we might experience the cruelty of man very much the same as occurred in the past. God has certainly blessed our country. Even before the Flood, man's heart was continuously evil. That's what brought on the Flood. I don't believe he has changed. Governments do not change man.
I'll go out on a limb here and say that man's heart has never changed, yesterday or today, unless he has turned to God openly and honestly, repented of his sins and thrown himself upon the mercy of God. Every man who has done this will have a new heart and will be in heaven one fine day.
If God were to bring fire against everyone who sinned intentionally, everyone would be burned up. God is merciful. That means He does not give us what we deserve - hell. God is also gracious. That means He give us what we do not deserve - heaven. But we must be willing to see things as God sees them. The ONLY way we can do that is to see God correctly, and we see Him correctly through His word, the Scriptures.
6 comments:
Hi Nate-
It makes me wonder if Nadab and Abihu did this by mistake. That they really didn't understand what they were told to do. Or, did they do this to "test" God. To see what would happen. And then in 10:3 Moses speaks to Aaron and it says that Aaron held his peace. It was as if Aaron "knew" that if he said anything about what happened that God would do the same to him. I also feel that God is a lot more tolerent of us now adays then he was back in the old testament times. Makes me wonder when we read Psalms and David seems to always be reminding God of things. Is that why?
God is as tolerant today as He ever was. He does not change.
It's really important to realize that God does not change - ever. He is the same in the OT as the NT.
In the Book of Revelation, when Jesus comes as King of kings and Lord of lords, He will be the judge, separating sheep from goats, and most will be destroyed.
God knows the heart. He knows the difference between an unintentional sin and an intentional sin. He knows the difference between an error, a mistake in judgment, even a sinful act of ignorance, from a sin that originates from an attitude of defiance and arrogance toward Him.
We don't know what God knows, and that is why some of the things He does seem strange to us. Memorize Isaiah 55:8-9. But it is very important to believe that God is 100% good, 100% just, 100% fair and 100% gracious, and we are not to judge God's actions or motives. We are very poor judges because of our sinful natures.
Any man, at any time, including today or tomorrow, who sins arrogantly and defiantly toward God deserves immediate punishment from God; from Jesus. God does not change. And men continually sin against Him intentionally.
Now just because they do sin intentionally does not mean God will kill them as He did for Nadab and Abihu, but He would be 100% justified in doing so. You should note that He also killed Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 for defiant sin.
The fact is: God is gracious and allows men to sin against Him in that way. He allowed evil men to kill Him on the cross. What we learn in the Scriptures is that God is perfectly justified in taking the life of one who sins arrogently against Him, and we have many in our culture, even Christians and Christian leaders, who sin intentionally against Him. But usually, He does not kill men for this kind of sin. God is gracious, and His mercy endures forever.
One last thing: I truly believe that any person, even Nadab and Abihu, who sins arrogantly against God, if he truly confessed and repented of his sin, and believed in Christ, will be forgiven and eternally saved, and we will see that person in heaven. He may be killed in the body, but his soul will be saved.
Yes, I do believe God is 100% Good,100% Just, 100% Fair and 100% Gracious. I know that he is there and close to us.
It is cool to think that there still may be a chance to talk to Nadab and Abihu and find out what was going on in their minds at that time. I was thinking that there may never be a way of knowing what they were thinking. Thanks Nate, for having this Blog for people like me with lots of questions and having someone there to help with them.
Stacie
The pleasure is mine, to have a person like you, dedicated to seeking the wisdom of God's word. I glad to be there for you.
I think Stacie has a point and I am having the same trouble distinguishing the difference between the OT God and the NT God. It's as if I'm reading about two different....oh...oops... where do I go with this one?? (grin) I think it is a mater of perspective - at least I hope it is. The history of the time would demand a very strong portrayal of God so that His people would listen and obey and stay healthy and worship and lead a good life according to those laws. They would also support their priest, who was wise in the ways of god and God's laws. (i.e., sacrifices are for God, but the priest has to eat also. The laws we've been reading are very strong and very specific in a time when people needed that for health reasons and order, as it was a time of almost anarchy with tribes fighting and seeking power (note - much as it is in the Middle East today). They still need to be strong, but Jesus came to us at a time when law and order was slightly more organized, and was able to present to us the kind and benevolent but equally law-giving God. I'm especially glad that God does not come down and set me on fire when I goof, be it knowingly or un-knowingly. And I promise not to eat shrimp.
Okay Jude, let's discuss your comments.
If you think God was harsh in the OT, but kind in the NT, wait until we read Revelation. You will see Him in a different light. He never changes. We are the ones who change.
Here is a basic question you seem to be asking: Is man different from the past to the present, and will he be different in the future? This is hard to answer because we were not there in the past, and we only see the present in a narrow focus. Furthermore, we live in America where freedom is the norm. And today, if we lived in some parts of Africa, the Middle East, North Korea, or China for examples, we might experience the cruelty of man very much the same as occurred in the past. God has certainly blessed our country. Even before the Flood, man's heart was continuously evil. That's what brought on the Flood. I don't believe he has changed. Governments do not change man.
I'll go out on a limb here and say that man's heart has never changed, yesterday or today, unless he has turned to God openly and honestly, repented of his sins and thrown himself upon the mercy of God. Every man who has done this will have a new heart and will be in heaven one fine day.
If God were to bring fire against everyone who sinned intentionally, everyone would be burned up. God is merciful. That means He does not give us what we deserve - hell. God is also gracious. That means He give us what we do not deserve - heaven. But we must be willing to see things as God sees them. The ONLY way we can do that is to see God correctly, and we see Him correctly through His word, the Scriptures.
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