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What did they see? Something nice, for sure. Something to talk about back home: a god walking on a path of precious stones! Pretty. Really. "Were those real sapphires, you think?" "Yes, I figure they were.... More wine?"
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They were the youngest in the group; had been singled out by name to accompany their father, uncle, and the seventy elders.
Time came for Moses and Joshua to go higher to meet the Presence of God. Before setting off Moses said to the elders, Wait here for us until we come back to you. (Exodus 24:14) He did not address his nephews, because ... because he had forgotten they were there. Nadab and Abihu had quietly left the group and hidden behind some boulders on higher ground. From there they followed Moses at a distance, careful to stay out of sight.
"Show me, show me!", Moses pesters. He has a sense of what has not been seen. The stark response: You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. Then God softens and humors him the way one humors a child, When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen. (Exodus 30: 20-23)
Time came for Moses and Joshua to go higher to meet the Presence of God. Before setting off Moses said to the elders, Wait here for us until we come back to you. (Exodus 24:14) He did not address his nephews, because ... because he had forgotten they were there. Nadab and Abihu had quietly left the group and hidden behind some boulders on higher ground. From there they followed Moses at a distance, careful to stay out of sight.
"Show me, show me!", Moses pesters. He has a sense of what has not been seen. The stark response: You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. Then God softens and humors him the way one humors a child, When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen. (Exodus 30: 20-23)
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“Do you remember?”
“Yes, of course I remember. That beauty ... that light! I felt my whole body become weightless almost, seen from all directions at once, and my mind flooded with love and grace. I felt .... “
“But we weren’t supposed to be there. We weren’t supposed to see.”
“I know. But we were singled out by name; that must have meant something! And we didn’t die from looking, from seeing.”
“That’s true.”
“I felt the same energy when the korban were being drawn near and burned up in a flash. Didn’t you feel that too? It was like staring at the sun.”
“Yes.... Abihu?”
“Hm?”
“Do you think ... do you think He knows ... He remembers?”
“What?”
“Us.”
“Well ... hm ... I’m not sure. I kind of thought there was a ... connection, and that we’d be given special roles, not lumped in with Eleazar and Ithamar doing chores. They weren’t even there! “
“Maybe He doesn’t remember.”
“Yes.... Perhaps we should remind Him that it’s us, the ones who basked in his glory.”
“I don’t know.... How would we do that?”
“Find a reason to get close. These rituals we’re doing here are set up to keep everyone away from the Presence. I think they are scared, and they need the reassurance. Only we’re not afraid, we have seen His face before! And I’m sure we will be raised up when He recognizes us!”
“I would give anything to be so close once more, to feel that consuming love.”
Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, each took fire pan and put burning coals and incense in it.... And fire came forth from God’s face, and devoured them, and they died in God’s presence.
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.'" (Leviticus 10:3)
“Do you remember?”
“Yes, of course I remember. That beauty ... that light! I felt my whole body become weightless almost, seen from all directions at once, and my mind flooded with love and grace. I felt .... “
“But we weren’t supposed to be there. We weren’t supposed to see.”
“I know. But we were singled out by name; that must have meant something! And we didn’t die from looking, from seeing.”
“That’s true.”
“I felt the same energy when the korban were being drawn near and burned up in a flash. Didn’t you feel that too? It was like staring at the sun.”
“Yes.... Abihu?”
“Hm?”
“Do you think ... do you think He knows ... He remembers?”
“What?”
“Us.”
“Well ... hm ... I’m not sure. I kind of thought there was a ... connection, and that we’d be given special roles, not lumped in with Eleazar and Ithamar doing chores. They weren’t even there! “
“Maybe He doesn’t remember.”
“Yes.... Perhaps we should remind Him that it’s us, the ones who basked in his glory.”
“I don’t know.... How would we do that?”
“Find a reason to get close. These rituals we’re doing here are set up to keep everyone away from the Presence. I think they are scared, and they need the reassurance. Only we’re not afraid, we have seen His face before! And I’m sure we will be raised up when He recognizes us!”
“I would give anything to be so close once more, to feel that consuming love.”
Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, each took fire pan and put burning coals and incense in it.... And fire came forth from God’s face, and devoured them, and they died in God’s presence.
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.'" (Leviticus 10:3)
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