KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY

Carolyne Chebet's article with The Standard newspaper (2018) stated that cases of rangers being attacked and killed by wildlife have been acknowledged and feted for international awards. She said that the Chinese Billionaire Jack Ma, through Alibaba foundation rolled out awards for front line rangers in Africa based on their threats and challenges. Well, 16 Kenyan rangers were among those feted. We salute all our brave rangers and soldiers all over the world for they put their lives on the line just to keep us safe. 

In my study this morning, I came across two people who also died in the line of duty. Unfortunately for them, their premature death was occasioned by their negligence and disobedience. In Leviticus 10:1-2 "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.  2 And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died" we see two men who died as they ministered before the Lord because they offered strange fire. We'll seek to find out what constituted strange fires and how we can avoid this kind of service today.

In bible interpretation, it is important to note that scripture interprets scripture. Exodus 30:9  "You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a libation on it."  provides us with the first mention of the word "strange fire or incense." In this text we find out that the Hebrew word for strange is 'zuwr' meaning foreign or common. It would therefore be correct to deduce that a strange fire is anything foreign or common or a combination of the two. While it might be difficult for us to tell apart the strange from the Holy, God doesn't. 

With regards to foreign incense or fire, Exodus 30:34-37 helps us understand what a foreign incense is. In these verses God gives explicit instructions to Moses on the specific kind of incense that should be burned in His presence. In the light of this, foreign incense would be any incense that does not have those specific ingredients. You can't just take any available incense out there and offer it to the Lord. That's foreign. In my previous post "You First," I explored the specific ingredient given by God concerning the kind of worship that He accepts. Unfortunately in our generation today, people who improvise easily win our praise. 

We're learning that as servants of God we can not afford to be casual in the way we minister. As a matter of fact after Nadab and Abihu died, Moses received a word from the Lord directed to Aaron explaining to him why he lost his two sons Leviticus 10:3  And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace. In this context, God referred to the priests, Aaron and his sons. Those who minister before Him and teach the people  have a greater responsibility to be careful about God's holiness. From the above scripture it's evident that our service is two fold: 1. Before God and 2. Before all the people. We should not serve before all the people and neglect our service before God. The order should be service before God first then people. 

Now, with regards to common incense, Exodus 30:37-38  "But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD.  38 "Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people."  explains it. This incense was not meant to be used for personal use by men and neither was it meant to be made for the pleasure of men. It was meant for God's pleasure, explaining why anyone who made it just to smell it was banished. 

Therefore common things are those things that are not sanctified for God's use. Before all the people He must be glorified. When we try to share in the glory, we make that kind of service common. This is still a good principle by which to measure our worship. Anything that does not glorify God is not truly worship and should not be allowed in our worship gatherings. 

As a servant of God, this story sobers me up. I should be careful lest I too be killed in the line of duty. Ministry just like serving as a ranger or a police man is risky. Some servants of God have taken this noble duty casually to their own detriment. The negative stories that flood the social media with regards to the immoral,corrupt and proud ministers we have in our generation is appalling to say the least. How I pray that strange fires will not be our portion and that we'll make ministry be about God and God alone. I pray that above all we'll serve before Him in holiness. 

Reference 

Chebet, C. (2018, September 29). KWS ranger killed by a rhino he was guarding . The Standard News paper, p. 12.