24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
That must have been something to see and experience. Imagine standing in that crowd of over 600,000 men and seeing the fire come out of the Holy of Holies and shoot toward the altar and burn up its contents. Most people would have only seen a bright light and then smoke because there were not Jumbotrons to project an aerial view of the inside of the Tabernacle. Their reaction was immediate. There was joy and there was humility. But two sons of Aaron get a more personal visit of this fire. Before too many days they are getting creative with their obedience. They make up their own ritual which the Lord did not prescribe. And when they do, the fire comes and kills them. Obedience can’t be faked. It might be that they were drinking the sacramental wine (see 10:9). Or maybe they were showing off to some pretty young girls. Who knows! Whatever it was, they did not please the Lord.
The Arnold Journey 