Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Let us not assume anything except what the scriptures tell us. If we place ourselves in the garden as Adam, we know what death means. Did Adam? We know what good and evil mean. Did Adam? We understand consequences of action. Did Adam? What did God tell Adam about all this? We do not know. Nor do we know how long Adam and Eve lived and walked with God before they ate in error.

Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

What choice did Adam have? Adam was subjected to this vain experiment in the hope that given one and only one command that Adam might obey. Don’t eat. In this we only know Adam ate and why is not given. Here again, we must refrain from assuming we know anything. So what do the scriptures say in association with all this?

Genesis 3:17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Adam learns about consequences. We now know that consequences need not be known until after we sin. The inherent nature of sin is that it leads to knowledge you do not need and experience that you wish you could have avoided.

Is there a sin you have not sinned? Don’t. You won’t enjoy the because.

Leviticus 10:1-3 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. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

So what did Nadab and Abihu do wrong? The censer and the incense are within the ceremonial duties of the priesthood. Why was this offering considered strange fire and unacceptable by the Lord?

I find that if you look to the instruments and ceremony of service or even the responsibility of the priesthood, you will miss the point. Looking at people and things takes your eye off the prize.

It is not a hidden message. With plain language the Lord told Aaron why He took his sons Nadab and Abihu, “I will be glorified.” With that explanation Aaron held his peace. Peace restored is key in seeing the answer to any question. In every step of service in chapter 9 it was said as the Lord commanded Moses or as Moses commanded. In verse 10:1 we find the words, “he commanded them not”. Not that he told them “not to do it” but rather that they were not given command to do it.

Ceremonial obedience is not obedience of faith. Ritual is not obedience. This is not an examination of the motivation of the heart. It is about one thing and one thing only.

“I will be glorified.” Saith the Lord.

No more, no less.