May I?

I really enjoy a plate of carnitas with a side of guacamole. I’ve eaten rabbit (which tastes better than snake and tarantula). While I’ve ridden a camel, I have not eaten one. I don’t know what a hyrax is.

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In the eleventh chapter of Leviticus, those animals and others are listed in categories of which are approved or disapproved to partake.

• Fish with scales? Yes.
• Horned owl? No.
• Katydid? Yes.
  
• Bat? No.

Perhaps on another day, for another post, I will explain why many Christians, while not eaters of horned owls, do eat pork, even though Old Testament Law prohibits it. For now, it will suffice to say that some of the Mosaic Law was contextual. (See also Acts 10.) In the original context, God (through Moses) said yes to some creatures as food and no to others.

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Leviticus 11:3 (NIV)
“’You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.’”

Leviticus 11:4 (NIV)
"'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.'"

Imagine two of the first hearers of those words. I will and I will also give them names. The first is Jordan. The second is Sarah. Jordan hears the words and focuses on “you must not.” Sarah hears the words and ponders “you may eat.”

Jordan hears God telling him not to eat camels and vultures and complains that the Lord is restrictive. Sarah hears God permitting her to eat lamb and sea bass and thanks Him for His generosity.

Jordan sees a heron flying and wants to try the creature – not because he’s particularly hungry but because it irritates him that he isn’t supposed to.
Sarah sees a hyrax (whatever that is) scurry across the sand and laughs with wonder at God’s creativity.

Whether you know much or nearly nothing about the Bible, the Christian faith, and Jesus – I imagine that you know enough to be aware that, in the Bible, God provides words of instruction.
Think … “You shall not murder” and “Obey your parents.”
Think … “Don’t lie” and “Take and eat.”

God permits and God prohibits. When you read / hear those permissions and prohibitions, do you respond like Jordan or Sarah? Now, that is not an easy question to answer because sometimes, we are Longing-Jordan and others, Grateful-Sarah. But, in general, which person are you?

I encourage you to focus on the “you may.” Be grateful for what God provides. Even when we don’t understand them, God has reasons for what He allows and restricts. And – given that He created the heavens and the earth, and the pig, camel, bass, and raven – we do well to listen to Him.

• God tells us to eat and be satisfied. He also tells us to avoid gluttony.
• God provided the gift of sexual intimacy. He instructs us to enjoy that gift in marriage and prohibits it outside of that relationship.
  
• God provides for our needs (daily bread, etc.) and He warns of the evil of love of money.
• God provides laughter for our benefit and joy. Too many settle for a supposed joy in success, pride, a bottle, drugs, and the like.

God gives and God knows best. We do well to remember that.

Eleven chapters after Leviticus 11, we find words of the Lord that provide a good explanation of why He instructed the Israelites to do what He instructed.

Leviticus 22:31-33 (NIV)
“Keep my commands and follow them. I am the LORD. Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who made you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”

They were to follow His prohibitions and receive His allowances in order to respect His holiness and His Name. Any person who commits to live for God must do the same.

Given the message of the whole Scripture, I am convinced that God does not concern Himself with whether or not you eat pork sausage. But He does care about your response to His direction in your life. When your “gut” tells you not to do something, you can be nearly 100% sure you should listen to your gut. When your renewed-by-the-Spirit mind tells you to enjoy the thing God placed before you, enjoy it in gratitude. Focus on “you may.”

#ordinarylives