Playing With (Strange) Fire

What makes “strange fire”….strange? We could guess, of course, but in order to obtain an authoritative answer to this important question, we need to consult the passage in Torah/Scripture which introduces us to the concept. In Leviticus 10:1,2,8-11 we read as follows: “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 Yahuah, which he COMMANDED THEM NOT. And there went out fire from Yahuah, and devoured them, and theydied before Yahuah….And Yahuah spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahuah hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses”.

So we see that “strange fire” is strange for one reason, and one reason only: Almighty Yahuah has NOT COMMANDED IT! And if Nadab and Abihu had refrained from drowning their higher mental and spiritual powers in alcohol, they undoubtedly would have been able to “put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” and thus have avoided their sad fate.

In summary form, then, we might state the lesson to be learned from this experience as follows: worship of Almighty Yahuah is acceptable only if it conforms to the instructions for worship which He has provided….and we need to keep our wits about us (i.e. avoid intoxication) so that we can receive the guidance of the Ruach ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) to help us to properly understand and carry out His instructions.

Which brings us to the matter of….Christmas, probably the most anticipated and celebrated “worship” service and date on the Christian calendar! I have yet to find, however, a “believer” who contends that the celebration of Christmas has been commanded by Almighty Yahuah. Tragically, I have found many “believers” who openly admit to the multiple pagan roots of Christmas even as they go about their personal preparations for this disgusting “worship” institution, which clearly indicates they are a few statutes short of a full Torah!

And why so, we might ask? Revelation 18 brings to view a fiendishly treacherous whore with wine on offer to her patrons, and a mighty angel from heaven who warns Yahuah’s people to come out of her, lest they partake of her sins and receive of her plagues. Very regrettably, some “believers” have taken a little sip of this whore’s wine, and have found it to be so captivating and tantalizing that they’ve gone back for more….and more….until finally they openly flaunt their participation in “worship” which they freely acknowledge to be of pagan (i.e. demonic) origin, and lacking any commandment from Yahuah!

Brothers and sisters, this is not good! In the rotten court system of our land the plea of “intoxication” may spare you from some of the more severe penalties for serious crimes committed while drunk….but when the Righteous Judge of all the earth holds court, His people, to whom He has given His Holy Torah, will not get a break or be cut any slack if they offer the plea of “worshipping while under the influence”. This we learn, or ought to learn, from the experience of Nadab and Abihu.

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The celebration of Yahuah’s appointed times (referred to in Scripture as the feast days) is done according to Yahuah’s command, and brings blessings rather than curses and judgments, the outpouring/infilling of the fire of the Holy Spirit rather than the consuming fire of Yahuah’s wrath! If you need teaching about these appointed times, please contact me. And remember: don’t play with (strange) fire….or you’ll get burned!

Ron Buhler – Two-House Messianic Israelite, scribe of the Kingdom of Heaven, Bible student, pilgrim, & stranger