Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Then the Lord said to Aaron, "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses." Leviticus 10:8-11
Right after the Lord executes Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, by fire for violating His commands regarding tabernacle worship and specifically incense burning, the Lord gives Aaron a direct command about priestly conduct within the tabernacle. The Lord said to Aaron, "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die." And this didn’t just apply to Aaron and his sons but all priests who would follow. For God’s command would be a "lasting ordinance for the generations to come." So why did God have to issue this command?
Well, there is speculation that Nadab and Abihu were intoxicated when they burned the wrong incense, at the wrong time, with the wrong fire which prompted God to burn them to death with His fire. Alcohol has adverse effects which not only can affect those who lead but also those who follow.
Regardless of leading or following, God expected complete obedience to His expectations. This required clear thought and judgment at all times and one under the influence of alcohol could not exercise sound decision making. This is why God added in our passage, "You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses." How could the priest make the appropriate determinations about things that were clean and unclean if their minds were clouded by alcohol? And how could they teach other properly if they were always drinking? For not only would they be setting the wrong example for those they were teaching but those the people they were teaching could always choose to question the teaching they received since it was coming from someone who was under the influence of alcohol. So priests were disempowered by drinking and thus God prohibited it when they were carrying out their tabernacle duties…which pretty much went around the clock.
So how do you size up before God when it comes to alcohol? One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that you will never have an alcohol problem in your life if you don’t drink. It’s perfectly fine to be abstinent. And just in case you think it’s impossible, I will tell you it isn’t. I have survived over 48 years of life without alcohol and this has included my 24 years and three months in the Navy. I can tell you with absolute assurance that I haven’t missed anything in life by never having a drink of alcohol. But I can tell you I have watched so many others fail because of it. This is why I have always thought of alcohol as the devil’s drink. For anything that causes a person to be impaired, whether it is alcohol or drugs, is something to stay away from. God expects us to be clear-headed and able to make the right decisions. Alcohol takes you away from these expectations and, more often than not, takes a person closer to sin.
There are accounts of people falling into sin as a result of intoxication. There are still other passages where the Lord speaks in anger at the way Israel as a people had abandoned Him and His principles…with each occasion leading to judgment. Consider these passages on the matter of drunkenness:
In a passage I wrote about on October 12th in my devotional titled, "The Devil’s Drink", Lot was intoxicated when he slept and impregnated his two daughters (Genesis 19:30-38).
Nabal, a wealthy man in Carmel, almost brought death on all his men at the hands of David by his greed and selfish attitude. His wife, Abigail, intervened when her drunk husband was unable to make a decision that meant life or death to all his servants and himself. Once sober, the discovery of what nearly happened was too much for Nabal’s heart which failed him and the Lord struck him down 10 days later. 1 Samuel 25
Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus ring just as true to us today: "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:17-18) Filled with alcohol, we will make decisions based on our desires and sinful nature. Filled with the Spirit, we will always make choices that fully fit God’s desire for us and our lives.
"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8) Indeed, these words to the church in Thessalonica remind us that as Christians, we are to be in the light…the light of Christ Jesus. Drunkenness moves us toward darkness and away from the light of the Lord. It’s no wonder that many people who have chronic alcohol issues find themselves depressed and in despair.
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry…be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray."
(1 Peter 4:1-3, 7) Peter reminds us that drunkenness is not of one who is in partnership with the Lord but rather paganism. For those living righteously and walking in the ways of the Lord will be clear-minded and self-controlled so they can pray and be in fellowship with the Father.
Finally, we read Paul’s words to the church in Galatia. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:16-23) Friends, this is one of my favorite passages in the Bible because it serves as a primer for Christian living. When we live by the Spirit, we live outside of the sinful
natures and as you can see, there are far more of them than just drunkenness…although misusing alcohol can lead you toward committing the other acts. But Paul leads us from the fruit of the vine and rather toward the fruits of the Spirit…fruits that will lead us toward holiness and far away from sinfulness.
Question: What fruit is more dominate in your life…the fruit of the vine or the fruit of the Spirit? Only you can answer that question and I pray you will come before the Lord and His word to test yourself and seek what the Father would have you do. He will make His expectation clear. My hope is that He already has started through this devotional today. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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