Strange fire

Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. – Leviticus 10v1

I often wonder about Nadab and Abihu. What motivated them to offer this strange, profane fire before the Lord? From verses 8-9 it may very well have been because they were drunk, but it not totally clear.

Either way these two young men were careless about their service for the Lord. Their service was serious and specific and yet they took a very light and cavalier attitude toward the sacrifice. The offered a fire what was not what God wanted. They acted according to their own plans and ideas.

I think that this is related to anytime man tries to take his own ideas and make them God’s. Men still do that today. Churches of all types can add their own traditions and preferences and try to make them equal to the word of God.

Is there really a difference between Nadab and Abihu’s strange fire and the strange teachings that far too many churches add to God’s way?