Now that all the offerings of the law have been revealed as complete in chapter 7. And now that the priesthood to offer these sacrifices has been consecrated in chapter 8; here in chapter 9, Moses instructs Aaron and his sons to offer all of these for himself, his family, and all of the children of Israel. Moses says, “…This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.” (Lev. 9:6). When these offerings were complete, the promise was realized. It says, “…and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.” (Lev. 9:23) Further, it is recorded, “And there came a fire out from the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” (Lev. 9:24)
No doubt this fire falling from the LORD is what happened in Genesis 4:4 when Cain saw Abel’s blood sacrifice of a lamb accepted by heavenly fire falling and his bloodless works-sacrifice rejected. Likewise, when the false religious leaders in Elijah’s day offered their sacrifices no fire fell, but when the LORD’s true prophet offered his sacrifices the fire of the LORD fell.
If we are part of the true N.T. priesthood that worships the LORD through our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we come to God through the blood of His finished sacrifice, God’s will show up for us in what we do. He will bless you and not forsake you today and every day.
But the sons of Aaron offered strange fire on their censers(Lev. 10:1) It was not fire from the brazen altar( a type of the cross of Christ) and God killed them. Any approach to a holy God that is not in and through the Lord Jesus Christ and His once-for-all sacrifice will be rejected. Let us approach and serve our God today in and through the Lord Jesus and know of that Divine acceptance( see Ephesians 1:6)!!
-Pastor Randy Bloem