S(Leviticus 10:1,2) Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censor and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord ... and fire came out from before the Lord ... and they died before the Lord.
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Presumably, this could have been the best day of Aaron's life because he and his sons were dedicating the tabernacle. Instead, his sons did the right thing in the wrong way, and died for it. Details do matter, motives matter, and goals matter. As priests, Nadab, Abihu, and Aaron were leaders, and sin in leadership is especially serious (we're all leaders for some seasons). Sin in leadership produces sin in people. Whether their carelessness was born from indifference or drunkenness (as the text suggests), God knew that far worse activities were sure to follow.
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This reminds me that the end, even if the goal is good, is never accomplished with the assistance of wrong means. The freedom of truth can never be established by lies, just as purity can never be achieved through increasing corruption. After this, Aaron and his two remaining sons, Ithamar and Eleazar, might have cowered from God's call, but in the end of this chapter, we see that whenever it is remotely possible, even when deviating from God's commands, God chooses mercy and grace over judgment (James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:1-8).
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Lord, search me and know me. See if there are any wicked motives or corrupt expediencies in my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I choose to worship You in Spirit and in truth instead of being intoxicated with my own ambitions. Thank You for delivering us from even the fear of death.
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