A most serious and terrible punishment was visited upon these young men who dared to enter into the presence of the Lord in an intoxicated condition. They had been solemnly consecrated to the service of the sanctuary, and it was necessary to make an example of them before the children of Israel. But shall this history of God's dealing with them be passed over by us, as though it was a matter in which we have no concern? The Lord has manifested his displeasure with a course of this kind, and sets before us the principle which he would have us heed. Everyone who is connected with the service of God is in sacred office, and the words that Jesus Christ spoke from the pillar of cloud and fire, are to be regarded and put into practice by us. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them."

En meget alvorlig og forfærdelig straf kom over disse unge mænd der vovede at gå ind i Herrens nærhed i en beruset tilstand. De havde været højtideligt indviet til tjenesten ved helligdommen, og det var nødvendig at sætte deres eksempel frem for Israels børn. Men skal denne historie om Guds handlemåde med dem være forbigået af os som om det var en sag i hvilken vi ingen andel har? Herren har vist hans mishag med en kurs at denne slags, og sætter foran os principper som han ønsker vi skal give agt på. Enhver der er forbundet med tjeneste for Gud er i en hellig stilling, og ordene, de som Jesus Kristus talte fra ild og skystøtten, de skal tages til efterretning og praktiseres af os. “Da sagde HERREN til Moses: Stig ned og indskærp folket, at de ikke må trænge sig frem til HERREN for at se ham, at der ikke skal ske et stort mandefald iblandt dem. Selv præsterne, som ellers træder frem for HERREN, skal hellige sig, for at ikke HERREN skal tynde ud i deres rækker."