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Series 3:
Lesson 48: |
MOSES
THE JUDGEMENT OF NADAB AND ABIHU |
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Passage to Study: Leviticus 9:23-24; 10:1-11.
Read with the class: Leviticus 10:1-11.
Memorization text: Younger children - Psalm 89:7. “God is greatly to be feared in the
assembly of His saints”.
Older children - Psalm 89:7.
OBJECTIVES: To teach:
1. That our own ideas of how to come into God’s presence are of no value.
2 That God’s Word alone must be obeyed.
3. That God is most holy explaining this quality as perfection and as being totally
separate from sin.
4. That anything which is contrary to God’s holiness is judged and punished.
5. That access to the presence of God is possible only on the basis of Christ’s
sacrifice, which is symbolized by the sacrifices offered on the brazen altar.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS: Several of the priests at work in the court of the
tabernacle.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The clothing of the High Priest was coloured and different to that of the priests.
- On his head he wore a mitre (similar to a turban) on which was a golden plate engraved
with the words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD”.
- Dressed in his special clothing, the High Priest would be reminded constantly of the
holiness of the God he served and the reverence that was required of those who were
engaged in His service.
- The priests wore white garments for their work in the tabernacle.
- The white linen of the priests’ clothing spoke of the purity God required of all
those who entered His presence.
Cmt. Ask the students what serves as a reminder of God’s holiness. Possible replies
might include: God’s Word which reproves sin, our Conscience when subject to
God’s Word, the need for Reverence in prayer; a Concern to know what God requires,
etc.
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS: Several priests serving at the brazen altar while two others,
with censers in hand, go towards the Holy Place. Fire could then be shown coming out
of the Holy Place towards Nadab and Abihu and consuming them.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The cloud above the tabernacle showed that God was present among his people.
- The fire on the altar of brass was originally lit by fire that came out of the Most Holy
Place and consumed the sacrifice on the altar.
- This fire was then kept burning continuously.
- One of the duties of the priests was that of burning incense on the golden altar in the
Holy Place.
- Using their censers, they carried fire from the altar in the court to the golden altar
inside the Holy Place.
- On the coals upon this altar they sprinkled incense which, as it burned, rose towards
God with a sweet and pleasing smell.
- It is not known from where Nadab and Abihu, two sons of Aaron, took the fire that they
placed in their censers but it was not the fire God required and He considered it “strange
fire”.
Cns. This is an illustration of going contrary to God’s perfect will, or doing
something contrary to His holiness.
- The other Israelites were not aware that these men were disobeying God’s commands.
- Only a short time before, fire had come out from the presence of God to burn the
sacrifice.
- Once again fire comes forth and Nadab and Abihu, who were priests, fall to the ground,
slain because of their carelessness regarding the holiness of God.
- These two men had seen the glory of the Lord in the mountain (Ex.24:1, 9-11) but they
lost sight of what it meant and soon began to follow their own ideas instead of following
God’s declared will.
Apl. Nadab and Abihu had been very privileged and because of this they were all the more
responsible to behave correctly in God’s presence.
Cmt. There are many students coming to Sunday School whose parents are believers and who
therefore know what God expects of them. Their responsibility is greater.
- The seriousness of the sin of Nadab and Abihu is evident in God’s command to
the family not to mourn their death.
- God is a consuming fire. Heb. 2:29. Fire is a symbol of God’s holiness
since it consumes all that is contrary to His will.
Cns. The Holiness of God is the foremost doctrine in the Bible.
- The sin and names of Nadab and Abihu are mentioned several more times in the Scriptures.
(Lev.16:1, Num.3:4, Num.26:61)
SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS and APPLICATION:
Stress the holiness of God and the importance of obeying what He says. Choose some of the
following figures to illustrate how God taught men the attribute of His holiness.
1. The tree of life in the Garden of Eden showing the way of access cut off by a flaming
sword or an angel.
Cmt. This tree was guarded by cherubim so that Adam and Eve, in their sinful state, could
not draw near to it.
2. The burning bush and Moses’ with his shoes off his feet.
Cmt. At the start Moses learned that the One who talked with him was Jehovah God Who was
holy
3a). Mount Sinai and over it a thick cloud, thunder and lightening.
Cmt. This caused great fear among the people and they asked that Moses go alone into God’s
presence to receive the law. God’s power could be seen and felt.
3b). Israelites lying dead at the bottom of the mountain because of having worshipped the
golden calf.
Cmt. God showed His holiness and judged the idolaters.
3c). Moses showing his anger and throwing down the tables of the law, breaking them.
Cmt. God required that the Israelites sanctify Him in their lives by obeying His will.
4. A person talking to a group of young people and expressing a mistaken idea about God
and the way to Heaven. The words spoken are contrary to the Bible.
Sug. An “X” placed across this picture will show that these words are not the
truth.
5. Money, with an “X” marked over it.
Cmt. The contribution of money to any good cause, whether religious or philanthropic, does
not satisfy the righteous requirements of God.
6. A figure showing the broad way.
Cmt. The broad way is full of people who try to manage their own lives without taking God’s
holiness into account. Rather, they follow ideas contrary to the Truth as revealed by a
Holy God.
7. A figure showing the narrow way to which access is gained by a narrow door.
Cmt. The narrow way recognizes God’s righteous judgement against sin and the divine
grace that grants pardon. Entrance into the narrow way is through the Door of Truth, that
is, believing the gospel.
8. A door representing the entrance to Heaven and a Cross. A child with open arms
accepts Christ. Over the child are written the words “Just as I am”.
Cmt. This shows that the sinner, recognizing his sinnership before God, must come to
Christ just as he/she is. |
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