“You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel…the coney…the rabbit…the pig.” vv.3-7
Read chapter 11.
I always wondered what is cud? It's an animal that partially digest their food, and then regurgitates it from their first stomach and chew it. These commands about what animals are clean and unclean to eat were for Israel specifically and not one we need to adhere to today. Pork is one of the number one meats eaten today all over the world, but this isn't making God mad. I'm a rare one in the world that doesn't like bacon or really any pork products so I like to joke with this verse out of context as to why I don't eat it;) God made the clean and the unclean animals so it's not like the unclean were a result from the fall. So what's the reason then for calling some animals unclean for eating? Well one thing was to keep the Israelites as a separate people from other nations, especially as others worshiped certain animals. It also was to show distinction between common and holy to be observed by the Israelites. Also food is a temptation for man since the fall and the command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So here continuing to test and practice obedience to God's command in food appealing to the senses. Today we have liberty to eat what we want but we have to be careful in that freedom too as to self-control and whatever we do whether we eat or drink that it would bring glory to God. How may your eating habits bring dishonor or glory to God?
No comments:
Post a Comment