"THE SONS OF AARON OFFERED STRANGE FIRE BEFORE THE LORD." And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them. Aaron was in deep trouble. His trial was peculiarly great. It was death, the death of two sons at once. It was instantaneous death for an act of presumptuous sin. It was in the presence of the people, as an example of Jehovah's holiness and wrath. It was without time for repentance or any knowledge of their eternal state. But God said, "I will be glorified, and Aaron held his peace." This was opposed to murmuring, to questioning the justice of God, or refusing to be comforted. It was submission to the Lord's will springing from a knowledge of His righteousness; from supreme love to God, from carnal reason being brought into subjection, from a sense of desert. My friend, today's lesson speaks to us. It says, "In your most painful trials, imitate the saint of the Lord." It reproves all our complainings and questioning the Lord's love and mercy. It comforts us by showing us that the greatest saints have sometimes had the sorest trials. It speaks caution, and says, "Beware how you trifle, or presume, for Jehovah is a jealous God." The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.

For Meditation:
In all Thy dealings, Lord, with me,
O stop the murmuring groan!
Or let my only answer be,
"Father, Thy will be done!"