Seeing the Good in the Bad (Parashat Shemini)

This weeks parasha starts out with a very strange schedule of events...

In the beginning of the parasha, Moshe instructs Aharon and B'nei Yisrael to bring an offering to Hashem - "for today Hashem appears to you."  The parasha then proceeds to list everything that Aharon does step-by-step inserting some variation of the phrase "as Hashem commanded him" several times along the way.

Finally, after completing the offering, Moshe and Aharon go to the entrance of the Ohel Moed, bless the people, and the glory of Hashem appeared to them.  "A fire went forth from before Hashem and consumed upon the Altar the burnt-offering and the fats; the people saw and sang glad song and fell upon their faces."

This was an extremely spiritual high-point for all of Klal Yisrael and everyone was immersed in celebration.  Suddenly, however, the mood changed...

In the midst of all the joy, two of Aharon's sons - Nadav and Avihu - each take a fire pan, put in them fire and incense, and bring before Hashem an "alien fire."  It is called this because, as the pasuk goes on to explain - Hashem had not commanded them to bring it.  In response, Hashem sends forth a fire which consumes them and they die.

Aharon, who is presumably devastated by the events, is given the following words of consolation from Moshe:

"Of this did Hashem speak, saying 'I will be sanctified through those who are nearest Me, thus I will be honored before the entire people'."

After hearing this, Aharon becomes silent.

Two questions stand out to me regarding all of this:
1- What did Nadav and Avihu do that was so bad?
2- Why was this pasuk consolation for Aharon?

The answer to the first question is a shorter one.  Though their intentions were just, Nadav and Avihu decided to take matters into their own hands and perform avodah that had not been commanded to them - that was wrong!  From here we can learn that, even if we mean well, it isn't our place create forms of serving Hashem that He did not give us.

The answer to the second question can be explained with the following story regarding a friend of mine who is a Rebbe in a Yeshiva and has been known to lovingly bully his students over the years:

A staff member was walking through the halls when he overheard a student crying in one of the classrooms.  He approached the student and asked why he was crying.  The student replied "Rabbi Ploni"
"Oh" chuckled the staff member.  "Let me guess, Rabbi Ploni beat you up (not literally)? 
"No", replied the student.  
"Did he make fun of you?"  
"No!"  
"Did he yell at you?"
"No!"
"I don't understand" said the staff member, "he didn't hit you, he didn't make fun of you, he didn't yell at you - what did he do that made you cry?"
"That's just it" replied the student.  "He didn't do any of that to me - he hates me!!"

You see, this student had observed that Rabbi Ploni  "picked on" the students whom he had a bond with.  When the Rabbi Ploni didn't pick on him, he assumed he lacked that bond and was terribly jealous.

This was Moshe's consolation to Aharon!!

He explained that Hashem had told him he would use those who were dearest to him as an example for Klal Yisrael.  Moshe told Aharon "don't be upset that Hashem punished your sons and took them - be proud!!".  Nadav and Avihu died as a tremendous Kiddush Hashem and upon hearing this explanation from Moshe, Aharon was no longer upset and fell silent.

May we all be zoche to receive punishements from Hashem - as receiving those punishments means He holds us dear to Him and may we all have the siyata d'shemaya to take a deeper look into our lives and - if we realize we are lacking punishments - let us strive to get closer to Hashem so that he will give them to us!!

Shabbat Shalom!