Biblical Distinctions Between Clean and Unclean Meat

LESSON 2

BIBLICAL DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN CLEAN AND UNCLEAN MEAT

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on How to Prosper in Health. The topic for this study is: Biblical Distinctions Between Clean and Unclean Meat. In our previous study, we studied from Scripture that the original diet that God gave mankind was a plant-based diet comprising of fruits, grains, nuts and legumes (see Genesis 1:29). After the fall of our first parents, God added the herb of the field (vegetables) to the food of man (see Genesis 3:18).

From Genesis 7, we read about how God destroyed the world with a flood, killing both man and beast because of sin. This flood that destroyed the wicked also destroyed all the vegetation that God initially created as food for man. As Noah and his family walked out of the ark, they might have been perplexed as to how they were going to survive. The fruits, grains, nuts, legumes and vegetables that God has ordained as food for the human race were all gone. But the God who had sheltered them from the destructive flood had long foresaw their need, and made provision for their survival.

Beloved, before Noah and his family entered that ark of salvation, God specifically commanded Noah the following: "7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

7:3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth."

(Genesis 7:1-3) Friends, this is the first place in Scripture where we come across a distinction between clean and unclean animals and birds (see also Genesis 8:20). The straightforward command that God gave Noah concerning the clean and unclean animals and birds in Genesis 7:2-3, provides a clue that Noah already had knowledge of this distinction to be able to follow that express command from God. Two main reasons why God asked Noah to take in more of the clean animals are as follows:

1) The clean animals were to be used for worship sacrifices (see Genesis 8:20).

2) The clean animals were to serve as food for the human family after the flood. It is important to note that the flood destroyed all the vegetation that served as food for the human race. It was under this circumstance that God permitted Noah and his family to eat flesh food (see Genesis 9:3).

Beloved, it is clear from the texts we have reviewed so far that God's permission for the human race to eat flesh food did not include the use of unclean animals and birds. With only one pair each of the unclean animals and birds saved after the flood, many of these animals and birds would have been extinct if the command to eat flesh food meant all animals could be eaten. It is clear from the account in Genesis 7:1-3 that God knew beforehand that there was going to be a higher need of the clean animals and birds after the flood, and so ensured that Noah took seven pairs of all clean animals and birds into the ark. The One who has complete knowledge of all the animal species on the earth, gave the types He knew were 'clean' to the people who had obeyed His voice and come into the ark of salvation.

After the flood, the large majority of mankind began worshipping the creature instead of the Creator until the knowledge of the true God almost became extinct. With the whole world almost given to idolatry, God called the patriarch Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3), and through him brought up a people that He intended to use to reach the world with a knowledge of Himself (see Isaiah 2:2-3; Zechariah 8:23). This is the people of ancient Israel. The Lord called them His own peculiar treasure above all people, a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation (see Exodus 19:5-6).

Friends, like the people who were saved through the flood, God gave ancient Israel His laws of diet, once again making the distinction between the clean and the unclean. It is important to note that the Gentiles who did not know the Creator God could eat anything, but not so with Israel, whom the Lord had chosen to be "a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (review Exodus 19:5-6). From Deuteronomy 14:2-20, we read the following concerning the command that God gave ancient Israel in relation to their diet: "14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

14:3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.

14:4 These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,

14:5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.

14:6 AND EVERY BEAST THAT PARTETH THE HOOF, AND CLEAVETH THE CLEFT INTO TWO CLAWS, AND CHEWETH THE CUD AMONG THE BEASTS, THAT YE SHALL EAT.

14:7 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.

14:8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

14:9 THESE YE SHALL EAT OF ALL THAT ARE IN THE WATERS: ALL THAT HAVE FINS AND SCALES SHALL YE EAT:

14:10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.

14:11 OF ALL CLEAN BIRDS YE SHALL EAT.

14:12 But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

14:13 And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind,

14:14 And every raven after his kind,

14:15 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,

14:16 The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan,

14:17 And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant,

14:18 And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

14:19 And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.

14:20 BUT OF ALL CLEAN FOWLS YE MAY EAT."

(Deuteronomy 14:2-20; Capital Emphasis Added; see also Leviticus 11:1-47) From Deuteronomy 14 and Leviticus 11, the Lord gave the following criteria in relation to the animal species that could be eaten by His people:

1) The animals must: a) have parted hoof; b) cleave the cleft into two claws; c) chew the cud.

2) The fishes must: a) have fins; b) must have scales.

3) The birds / fowls: There were no specific criteria in relation to clean birds or fowls in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. However, one key that helps us to unravel the criteria of the clean birds is when we consider the characteristics of the birds that were used for sacrifices in ancient Israel. The Scripture mentions the turtledove and pigeon as being used for burnt offerings during the time of ancient Israel (see Leviticus 1:14-17; Leviticus 15:14, 29; Numbers 6:2; Luke 2:24). The fact that the turtledove and pigeon were used for sacrifices indicates that they are clean birds. Thus, the characteristics of these two birds will be helpful in determining which birds / fowls are clean or unclean. From this background, we gather some clear characteristics of clean birds as follows:

a) They are not birds of prey;

b) They have crops that help to digest their food and prevent it from fermenting;

c) Their stomachs have a double skin which can easily be separated;

d) They have a hind toe which is clearly separated from the front toes.

(See articles in Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906 under Clean and Unclean Animals)

With the characteristics of the clean birds we have noted above coupled with our previous knowledge of the various unclean birds and their types that are mentioned in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, we can safely differentiate between the kind of birds that are clean and those that are not clean.

Beloved, the Scripture makes it clear that as God was particular with righteous Noah in regard to the distinction between the clean and unclean animals species, so was He particular with ancient Israel; a nation whom He referred to as His own peculiar people. Now, at this point in our study, some questions I want us to reflect upon are these:

1) As the spiritual Israel of God (see Galatians 3:29), will the Creator require less of this dietary command from us?

2) Will the Creator God change His views about species He knows are unclean and abominable to allow His chosen people who are living at the end of time to partake of such flesh?

Friends, the Scripture makes it clear that the God of the Bible is a God who does not change (see Malachi 3:6). In both the Old and New Testaments, we come across the clear distinction between the clean and unclean animal species (see Leviticus 11:1-47; Deuteronomy 14:2-20; Acts 10:14). In fact, it is interesting to learn that in the last book of the Bible, the phrase "unclean and hateful bird" is still utilised by the beloved apostle John to denote the evil in spiritual Babylon (see Revelation 18:2).

What's more? From the book of Isaiah, we shudder to learn that those who willfully disobey the dietary laws of God will have to face the fury of God's executive judgement. From Isaiah 66:15-17, we read the following solemn words in relation to the disobedient: "66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

66:16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, EATING SWINE'S FLESH, AND THE ABOMINATION, AND THE MOUSE, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD."

(Isaiah 66:15-17; Capital Emphasis Added) Beloved, from the scriptural passages we have reviewed so far, it is clear that the Lord still requires His people (Spiritual Israel) to obey His commandments in relation to diet. According to the prophet Isaiah, the punishment of disobeying God's health laws is destruction in the fiery flames of hell. Well, these are not my words but that of Scripture.

Irrespective of these clear facts of Scripture, many in Christendom today continue to argue with various New Testament texts that Christians can partake of any flesh, whether clean or unclean. As we move forward in this series, we are going to consider all such New Testament passages one after the other. It is my prayer that the Lord will use this series to give light to His children who are yearning for the truth as is found in God's Word.

Exhortation: "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee" (Psalms 84:11-12).

In our next study, we will consider the topic: "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you": an exposition on Genesis 9:3. The Bible Study references for this study are Genesis 7:1-3, Genesis 8:20, Leviticus 11:1-47, Genesis 9:1-3, Genesis 1:20-25 and Genesis 3:18. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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