Nadab and Abihu are famous names in the bible. I think I should say they are “infamous” names in the bible. They are the two oldest sons of Aaron, Moses’ Brother, who should have inherited the priesthood from their father. They did not because they “offered unauthorized fire” on the altar of incense. “Unauthorized fire” is very intriguing. The best understanding is simply that these two men attempted to worship God at the altar of incense in a way different than God had described. God insists that we worship Him in spirit and in truth.
The altar of incense is a reminder of the role prayer plays in the Christian life. If our hearts are clean, then every time you or I lift our voices heavenward to speak to the Lord, our prayers are a fragrant aroma rising to the Father. But God wants truth in our prayer life. That truth is seen in our lives. Do we listen to God?
Are we open to His truth in our lifestyle? The Wisest man in the world said, (Proverbs 28:9) “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,even his prayer is an abomination.” The New Testament affirms this thought. “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.” (John 9:31)
May our prayers be a “fragrant aroma rising to our Father.”