It’s the first of the year! We claim we will change our habits “beginning right now”! After our two month eating binge that begins Thanksgiving and take us through January 1, and a few days after until the leftovers are gone because it would be sinful you know to waste food; we declare a moratorium on unclean foods. What are the unclean foods? Anything that leaves a sugary, waxy film on your teeth from fudge, cookies, cakes, and pies or anything fried and dipped in gravy that leaves extra “luggage” on your hips and thighs. I’m no expert, but am I right? We all do it. Well, most of us. We declare to the world that we will begin new habits of eating clean and exercising because the world of media is commanding and compelling us to get our act together at last! But unhealthy habits take diligent work to replace them with healthier habits.
What is clean eating? Generally, clean eating is assumed to refer to foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, maybe organic, and most likely with minimal use of any chemical additives and preservatives. And yes, they are more expensive which I don’t understand if less is added and the process more pure. But what do I know?
Unclean eating for us is to leave the gravy made from meat renderings off your biscuits! It also means to stop frying everything in sight. Frying a vegetable coated in breading doesn’t make it healthy! It’s tasty for sure but not good for us!
And, You’re welcome.
God’s people are making their way through the desert wilderness, cooking over campfires, trying to keep their families fed on their journey with God to the land He has promised. They are traveling with a few hundred thousand of their closest friends and family along with all their herds of animals. God, their God, is now teaching them what to eat and what not to eat on their journey to keep His people healthy…and holy!
They are the FIRST people to be told about “clean eating” with what is “unclean eating! Well, there was that time with Adam and Eve…
Leviticus 11
Clean and Unclean Food
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: 3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.
4 “‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. 5 The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. 6 The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. 7 And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
9 “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales. 10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. 11 And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. 12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you.
13 “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
20 “‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you. 21 There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. 22 Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. 23 But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean.
24 “‘You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. 25 Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.
26 “‘Every animal that does not have a divided hoof or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. 27 Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. 28 Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. These animals are unclean for you.
29 “‘Of the animals that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. 31 Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening. 32 When one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever its use, will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean till evening, and then it will be clean. 33 If one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break the pot. 34 Any food you are allowed to eat that has come into contact with water from any such pot is unclean, and any liquid that is drunk from such a pot is unclean. 35 Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean. 36 A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean. 37 If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean. 38 But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.
39 “‘If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches its carcass will be unclean till evening. 40 Anyone who eats some of its carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.
41 “‘Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten. 42 You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean. 43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them. 44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
46 “‘These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground. 47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.’”
Footnotes: The precise identification of some of the birds, insects and animals in this chapter is uncertain.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Do not eat roadkill! Thank you, God, for this clean eating habit!! A member of one of the churches Randy pastored notoriously stopped to pick up road kill, dress it out, and freeze it. He would “gift” us with his prizes occasionally. All I could think about was this passage of scripture which I longed to quote to him!
God wants His best for His people. God’s goal is to keep is people alive and well on their journey. Not all animals are to be eaten because there is something in them that could make His people ill. God knows His creation and knows created being contributes. As parents, our goal on any road trip with our kids is to get to our destination without anyone getting sick, right? So, we guard what they eat.
Consider this—God who created all has a purpose for all. If God’s people ate what was “unclean” as indicated by God; that unclean animal can no longer serve it’s purpose. For example: Bats eat mosquitoes. Snakes eat rats that carry germs. Camels are their mode of travel—don’t eat your luggage racks!
God knows what is best for us. We must deal with the unhealthy consequences when we do not obey His direction and guidance. That is not to say that illness will not come into our lives as our bodies do wear out eventually; but we do what we know to be right and good when we seek God’s will for our lives. Following God is more than what we eat, it’s who we follow each day.
Our response to God is to seek Him first concerning all of life because He gave us eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus’ life.
Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2; “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
God seeks those who hearts are committed to Him. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” This was written by Samuel to God’s leader who was foolishly going his own way with dire results for God’s people.
What we learn from Samuel is this: God wants to help us to be more like Him who created us “in His own image.” He will give us the strength we need along with the divine power of His Holy Spirit within us to obtain more healthy lives spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically! Bonus: God’s desire is that no one perish but have everlasting life—that’s why He sent a part of Himself, Jesus, to redeem us and set us free from the sins that bind us to the Enemy and keeps us from God’s best for us. God will give us His strength and power to overcome all obstacles in this life.
Summing it up—Whether a creature was “clean” or “unclean” had nothing to do with the quality of the beast; it all depended on what God said about the animal. When He gave these laws, no doubt the Lord had the health of His people in mind (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:15), but the main purpose of the dietary code was to remind the Israelites that they belonged to God and were obligated to keep themselves separated from everything that would defile them. “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”
The spiritual principle of separation from defilement still applies to us today. The fact that we know God must make a difference in every aspect of our lives. “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body”, 1 Corinthians 6:20. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Lord,
I believe what you say. I know without a doubt that you want your best for us. Help us, by the guidance of your Holy Spirit, to discern what will glorify You in all we think, say, and do! Keep our hearts cleansed of all that does not belong. Renew our minds. Refresh and reset our souls. Restore the joy and peace of your work in us. To you be the glory!
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 