This chapter divulges the clean and unclean creatures – those Israel can and cannot eat. It also describes ceremonial (and even literal) cleanness from touching deceased creatures.
“And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, ‘Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable. You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them. For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.’ This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.” (v1-3,42-47)
There are far more details than I pasted in above, so feel free to read the whole chapter. God is very clear on what the people were allowed to eat, and how to stay clean or become clean again if they happened to contact an unclean or dead creature.
In summary, Israel was allowed to eat creatures that solely ate fresh vegetation. A cow eats grass, it is clean. A pig eats “garbage”, it is not clean. Fish with both fins and scales were clean to eat, but those without are the cleanup crew (eg. bottom feeders or shellfish) and are unclean to eat.
The Israelites may not have known this at the time, but nutritionists and doctors now know creatures God originally declared unclean contain various things we probably shouldn’t consume (most people agree pigs are unhealthy for us to eat, but they taste sooooo good… [I enjoy my bacon three ways: well-done, with any meal, and frequently])
The literal and ritual uncleanness that came from touching unclean or deceased creatures was God’s way of preventing the spread of disease, bacteria and infection (which again, Israel probably didn’t understand, but having microscopes we now understand). God made sure people were washing themselves and their clothes and remaining in isolation if/when they became unclean.
So what does this mean for us today? Are we unclean for enjoying a little bacon now and then? Not exactly. Yes, we need to be discerning about what we physically eat (at which I fail miserably), but more importantly, we need to be discerning about that with which we fill our hearts, minds and spirits. It’s hugely important to digest the cleanest food for our souls. What do we watch on TV? What kind of games do we play? To which leaders do we listen, and what of their words do we take to heart? What are we consuming that has an affect on our beliefs, values and morals? Are we devouring the bread and water of life, or are we getting our fill from worldly means?
Jesus explains it like this: ” ‘No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.’ ” (Lk 33-36) I think what he’s saying is, “be careful little eyes what you see” (like the children song). If we have “bad eyes” we will be filled with darkness (ie. sin). If we have “good eyes”, we will be filled with light (ie. righteousness). He wants us to be wholly bright, like a lamp on a stand, giving light to all of those around us. What comes out of us is contingent upon what goes into us (and stays there). The old programming adage goes like this: “Garbage in, garbage out.” The Bible says it more like this: “you reap what you sow.” If we fill our souls with good things, good things will come out, and the opposite is also true.
Father God, we praise You for Your wisdom and guidance that You freely give us. We acknowledge that we are foolish and weak, and the world has so many exciting opportunities. Please Father, guide us to be discerning about what we ingest – the movies we watch, the music to which we listen, the books which we read, and the people whom we follow. Please help us to make wise choices, for there are so many options that seem right and good. Father please help expose and expunge any darkness within our souls, and continue to fill us with light. Father with the light of Your righteousness within us, may we be lamps unto this world, showing everyone the glory of who You are. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training