First and Last, Think magnificently of God
Reflections on the characters of nadab & abihu
by Alan Piner
Paternus was a man who lived toward the end of the second century, and he left his son a set of last words. Last words are important. They stay with us. Perhaps you remember some last words spoken to you by someone before they passed away. Maybe they said them directly, or maybe they wrote them in a letter, or perhaps they sent a message through someone else. Whatever the form, meaningful last words have a way of settling into the heart.
Paternus’ message to his son was simple and profound:
“First and last, my son, think magnificently of God.”
That was the father’s quiet message to his son. From beginning to end, and in everything in between, the most important thing is to think magnificently of God.
I have not always done that. I have carried some poor images of God in my mind at times. Maybe you have too. As I was growing up and hearing certain Bible stories, I struggled with the way some of them turned out. One story in particular troubled me: the story in Leviticus 10 about Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who offered “strange fire” before God. Fire came out from the altar and destroyed them.
In my mind — and perhaps in yours — Nadab and Abihu were just two good old boys who grew up in a religious environment. Their father was the high priest. Their uncle was Moses. Their aunt was Miriam. What a family. They seemed like a couple of downhome fellows who never caused any trouble. They were not bad people. They did not do a lot of things we would call wrong. Maybe they were not up on everything they should have been, but basically, they seemed like decent men.
Then one day they went into the tabernacle and offered a strange fire. It did not seem strange to them. It looked nice. It smelled nice. But suddenly — bam — fire came out from the Lord and consumed them.
Sometimes my feeling, and maybe yours, was this:
If God would blast good old boys like Nadab and Abihu, then I do not stand a chance.
It is only a matter of time before He gets me. After hearing a story like that, we might even think, “If that is the way You are, God, I do not want anything to do with You. But I am scared to death of You, and I dare not come near You.”
Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like you just do not stand a chance? If God got Nadab and Abihu, then surely, He is going to get you.
Those thoughts have crept into my mind at times. But the truth is this: God was not unfair. He was not unjust.
One thing often overlooked in this story is that Nadab and Abihu were not simply good old boys who made a mistake. They were not innocent men who slipped up. When we look closely, we see three important realities.
1. Everything was new.
Nadab and Abihu were stepping into a brand‑new venture. The tabernacle was new. The priesthood was new. The rules were new. When something is new, people tend to treat it with exceptional care.
When you get a new car, you are incredibly careful where you park it. You take up two spaces. You park on the yellow line. You park far away from everyone else. You drive it carefully. But once you get the first dent or scratch, it doesn’t matter so much anymore.
Relationships are similar. When they are new, you would never think of doing certain things in front of the other person. You put on your best front. But when the newness wears off, the real you comes out.
This tabernacle was new. This worship was new. It demanded reverence.
2. God had warned them clearly.
God told Aaron, “Tell the boys that this is special. Tell them that what they are dealing with is most holy. Tell them to be careful, lest they die.”
The point is simple: they were told.
Some things in life are dangerous if managed carelessly. Chemical companies often use the motto “Safety First” because some of their materials will kill you if you are not careful. That is why warning labels exist on household chemicals. If you misuse them, you can die.
God was saying, “This is new. This is holy. This is powerful. Treat it with care.”
3. They walked right past the fire they were supposed to use.
Imagine walking through the tabernacle. The first thing you come to is the altar of fire. Then you pass the laver. Then you enter the tent to burn incense. Where were they supposed to get the fire? From the altar — the very first thing they saw when they entered.
They could not have missed it.
Yet they ignored it.
They said, in effect, “We know God said to get the fire from here, but we will get it from over there. It does not really matter.”
But it did matter.
They were not simply careless. They were defiant. They willfully chose to disregard God’s instructions, and they paid the penalty.
God is not arbitrary, mean, or ugly. He is not sitting in heaven waiting for people to make a mistake so He can strike them down. He is not eager to blast us. Yes, people will go to hell — that is a reality — but not because God is some kind of cruel being who wants to send them there. That idea is an insult to God.
Nadab and Abihu were not innocent men. They chose to disobey. And that is what we must teach: if you choose to disregard God’s warnings, if you choose to ignore everything He has said, then you will face the consequences. But I am persuaded that it is a hard thing to go to hell, because God is doing everything He can to keep us out of it.
God Is Not a Monster
Some people sit in church Sunday after Sunday, singing songs, praying prayers, taking the Lord’s Supper, giving their money — and deep down they do not believe God is good. They believe He is holy, powerful, awesome, and just — but not good. They believe He is dangerous.
Now, God is not to be trifled with. But any God who would sweat and die on a cross is not a monster. Why would He do that if He did not love us?
Seeing God in the World Around Us
Psalm 104 teaches us something beautiful: look around at the world and look for God in it. The changing seasons, the plants, the animals — these are the possessions of the Lord. He is still there. Our God is a living God.
The biblical picture of God is of a God who is near, active, and engaged. He sees, and when He sees, He acts. He hears, and when He hears, He listens. He speaks for our good. He has hands to work, feet to walk with us, and a heart that cares.
And He can be pleased.
What a wonderful thought — that you can please God.
I am slowly learning that Christianity — worship, teaching, service — is simply our way of saying “thank You” for what God has already done, for what He is doing, and for what He does every day.
Think Magnificently of God — A Closing Look Back at Nadab and Abihu
It is fitting to return to Nadab and Abihu — not to leave us afraid, but to leave us seeing God more clearly.
Their story is not ultimately about two unlucky men who made a tiny mistake and were struck down by a harsh God. Their story is a reminder that God is holy, God is good, and God means what He says. Nadab and Abihu walked past the fire God provided, ignored the warnings God gave, and chose to worship God on their own terms. Their tragedy was not an accident; it was a deliberate dismissal of God’s holiness.
But here is the magnificent truth:
The story of Nadab and Abihu is not meant to make us run from God — it is meant to make us run to Him.
It teaches us:
God is not unpredictable.
God is not cruel.
God is not waiting to destroy us.
God is clear, patient, and good.
If Nadab and Abihu show us the seriousness of ignoring God, the cross shows us the seriousness of His love. Any God who would bleed for us is not a monster. He is magnificent.
So when we read their story, we don’t end in fear — we end in awe. We end remembering that the God who calls us to holiness is the same God who draws near, who speaks, who listens, who provides the fire, and who invites us to walk with Him.
And so, with Nadab and Abihu in mind, the message of Paternus becomes even more urgent and beautiful:
First and last, think magnificently of God.
Think magnificently of the God who warns because He loves.
Think magnificently of the God who provides what He requires.
Think magnificently of the God who is holy — and good.
Think magnificently of the God who is not far from any one of us.