Biblical health (2)
2021-02-11Leviticus 7:23 NLT
There is wisdom and worth in every part of the Bible. With that in mind, it’s important to acknowledge that a lot of the Old Testament is complicated, and can be difficult to read at times. There are so many things that grew from very specific cultures and contexts that can be lost on us when we read them.
This rings true for a lot of Leviticus. For example, today’s verse from Leviticus 7:23 reads: ‘You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose’ (NLT).
At a glance it’s just another very specific food rule given to Israel, another law for them to have to remember and follow. But when we think about it more deeply, the God-given advice for the Jewish people to avoid excess dietary fat for their own good is millennia ahead of its time. Research now shows that eating large amounts of animal fat can have negative impacts on our health. There is solid reasoning behind what God is asking His people to do.
God gives us instructions for our own benefit, to keep us safe and healthy, not because He loves arbitrary rules. All of this is a great reminder that, even when the Bible feels difficult, God knows the purpose behind every word that He breathes. He also cares deeply about our physical health, and has wanted us to look after ourselves since the beginning of time.