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Leviticus 10 – Intentions and Actions
This short article on intentions intends to make us aware that right actions and right intentions are both required to please God.
1. Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10). One of the few narratives in the priestly book of rituals is Aaron’s sons offering “strange” or unauthorized fire. Why they did this is seemingly connected to the sequential commands against drinking (v.9). I infer these two young priests were drunk. In that sense their actions were unintentional yet still wrong. Often today people are drunk on ignorance as they – though humanly innocent – worship God in unauthorized ways.
2. Uzzah (2 Samuel 6). While David’s priests were already lawbreakers by how they were transporting the ark via cows; it was not until he – humanly innocent -reached out to steady the Ark that God responded. God – oddly to us – struck him dead. One lesson for us is how often God shows grace. Everyone deserved to die yet God allowed all except one to live. Uzzah’s action was intentional – humanly good – but still wrong. For us sincerity is not enough.
3. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). Both husbands and wife were struck dead because they lied to the Holy Spirit. Even though there was good in the outcome because money was raised, their intentions were greed and attention seeking. Today we can argue about the ultimate good, even if intentions are innocent. Yet as we all know bad intentions can fuel – humanly good – great works and good outcomes.
Two of these were about the First Great Command. The last about the Second Great Command. Let’s intend to worship God and help our neighbors with God’s intentions.
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