Worship in the Wilderness #11: Those Unclean Animals!

 Read Leviticus 11

Background: As noted at the beginning of our study, there are two main questions answered in this book: 1)How can the priests assist God's people in worshipping Him?, and 2) How can God's people live holy lives pleasing to God? Much has been said in verses 8 through 10 about the priests.  God now turns to some more specifics about the second question.  The distinctions made here had also been made when God told Noah to take the animals on the ark, so it was nothing new.  The animals that were "clean" were good for both sacrifice and for food. In the second half of the chapter God also emphasizes the fact that dead bodies of all types were "unclean" - some more than others.

Key Verses:  And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2 “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. 3 Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 4 Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 5 And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 7 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

Thoughts:  For us as believers, we are released from all the laws concerning animals, but there are some definite benefits to consider about the foods described as clean versus unclean.  What is important is that every detail of life needs to be considered in living a holy life before God.  Worship of the true and living God is not just about a religion of ceremonies one day a week and on special occasions: It affects everyday life and every area of our lives. God put it this way: 44 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. 45 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.”