What can we learn about the heart of God from these obscure dietary rules? First, I want to loom at the Law of Moses itself.
The Law Itself
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.
Leviticus 11:1-3
As a student and a new believer, I once went to help on a Christian camp for primary school children in Kent, England, run by Scripture Union. The kitchen surfaces were all covered in some form of protective film when we arrived. Turns out an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish group were using the boarding school building the week before. Even the stainless steel sink was 'protected'. Their food was not to be contaminated by the residue from Gentile food.
To this day observant Jews will eat only Kosher food. Even many Jews who would not consider themselves to be religious will still avoid a diet which violates Leviticus! So only Kosher food is acceptable according to the Pentateuch. These are the five Books of Moses and the Law. In the Old Testament they are Genesis through to Deuteronomy. Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 are the relevant passages if you want details.
But the most Orthodox and zealous Jew will not keep all the Law all the time! And God sees that!
Let's talk about the Law and why it was given.
The Law was an all-pervasive set of rules. It constrained all areas of life. Although it was given to the Israelites through Moses, the laws originated from God. Let's not forget that, or deny that. It was not given by a different God, it's the same God who was in Christ. It's hard not to see the laws as being a little intrusive at times! When Jesus came to Earth as mortal man, John noted a difference.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
The Law contained truth. It wasn't especially gracious. Therefore John draws a distinction. He feels the relief personally. God, very literally, turns out to be human! He likes people and accommodates them! He's righteous, certainly. But He's gracious too. Those who are contrite before God find Him attractive. He isn't in a hurry to point out the faults of these people.
The Law though was a demanding taskmaster. But we can't try to claim the God of the Old Testament is different to the God revealed in Christ. Why did the Israelites get a harsh, unfriendly deal? Briefly, the people under Moses were still full of self-righteousness and self-belief. They thought they had been delivered because of their superior virtue. Anyone with this mindset will encounter God's harshness. The Israelites were actually under a promise, a promise made to Abraham hundreds of years before. God was honouring a promise. He was not besotted of the moral purity of the Israelites. But they assumed their God was making a performance-based selection when He chose them. No. They were selected because God was faithful to Abraham, and so blessed and freed his progeny. Abraham himself was chosen only because he believed God. His character wasn't ideal either, which is obvious when we read Genesis chapters 12-25 fully.
Abraham's Reward and the Promise to his progeny
And he (Abraham) believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
Genesis 15:13-14
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates
So God promises Abraham that his descendant will be captive 400 years and then be delivered into a Promised Land. It's a promise: no conditions are stated. God is faithful and true. That's all you need to know.
But by the time the Israelites are delivered, they are saying
All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.
Exodus 19:8
Can you imagine that? There's a lot of pride and presumption in this statement. There's a huge wodge of conceit in there. Surely a more appropriate response would be 'what will this awesome and holy God demand from us? How are we ever going to keep Him happy?'
If they'd approached Him like that, He would've spelt out His merciful nature and reassured them, I'm certain. But they came in conceit and hubris, full of themselves.
God responds appropriately. He shows them it's no trivial task to please Him, if it's you doing it by yourself. Indeed it's completely impossible. So God gave them an impossible set of rules intended to show His holiness and character, while at the same time intended to demolish their self-belief.
The Law is not a 'because you're worth it' message!
Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Deuteronomy 9:5
This misunderstanding between promise and moral performance continues to this day.
God is not looking for your moral substance. He's looking for Himself in you!
How does that happen?
You must be born again.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
Next Time. What is the cloven hoof thing all about?
No comments:
Post a Comment