Nadab and Abihu

God wanted everyone to know He was holy. Moses told the priests and the people how to worship God through sacrifices and offerings. God then revealed His presence by appearing as fire in the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies. Instead of worshipping the Holiness of God, Nadab and Abihu made their own fire. This disrespect was so great that the fire of the Lord consumed them and their fire.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Leviticus 10

Outline:

1. Nadab and Abihu disrespect God and die (Leviticus 10:1-3)
2. Nadab and Abuhu’s bodies are carried out and buried (Leviticus 10:4-7)
3. New Laws about priests respecting God (Leviticus 10:8-20)

Tips for teaching children:

• Tell the story using a big candle representing God and matches representing Nadab and Abuhu’s fire.
  Refer to missionbibleclass.org for complete instructions.
• Talk about the holiness of God as it relates to the lives of the children you teach. How does God want us to respect Him at school, on the playground, and at church?
• Print or write “God is Holy” in the centre of a paper. Guide the children in gluing red, yellow and red tissue paper around the border for decoration. Alternatively, children can draw, colour or paint a border of their choice.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Read the story in class using three or four readers.  To do a dramatic reading, choose one person to read the narrator’s part, another God’s voice, another Moses’ and another Aaron’s.  
• For greater understanding, I suggest the class watch the Bible Project video on Leviticus (8 min).  It sets the story in the context of the book. Following the video, lead the class in a discussion of the video.  Some conversation starters might be as follows:
  • How does looking at the whole book of Leviticus help us understand the story of Nadab and Abihu better? 
  • What does this story have to teach us today as followers of Jesus about holiness and taking God seriously?  
  • What are some specific things we can do this week to live as a people who are set apart for God? In our home? Our work? Our communities? And at church?  
  • How can we honour and show our respect for God?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Nadab and Abihu  

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

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For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org