A series of priest-related events lead up to the appearance of the glory of God at the end of chapter 9. Various offerings for the priests and the people must be presented before the assembled people can look on the glory of God and live to speak of it. There is a clear distance between God and man, and the relationship available, such as it was, had to be mediated by men chosen to stand in the gap and ensure that the gravity of sin was recognised and symbolically dealt with. God's presence was in the tabernacle and the people were outside, and woe to anyone who did not respect the distinction! Though I tend to forget, our God is a consuming fire; and contrary to the sense of some worship songs (or what I get out of them anyway), that term doesn't just mean He makes us feel good or particularly devoted sometimes.
In response to God's fire on the offering, the assembled people were overjoyed - the offering was accepted and God was with them. Perhaps surprisingly given all the blood around, this was not a completely solemn occasion - the proper relationship between reverence and joy is worth thinking about! Likewise perhaps, we can rejoice in Christ's sacrifice and boast in the cross, while recognising its tragedy and pain and the seriousness of our sin which caused it.
Aaron's sons tried to add something to the prescribed offerings, for whatever reason. They were treated as blasphemers and consumed by God's fire. Nothing can be added or taken away from God's covenant with His people; God's holiness or separateness requires obedience. This runs directly against our culture's emphasis on self-rule, self-expression and freedom, but if anyone has the prerogative to run counter to culture, I guess it's the Creator of the universe.
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