Unclean Animals Teach Us About Being Kind
To Those Who Are Hurting
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Leviticus 11:46-47-This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, 47 to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.’ “
Throughout the Old Testament, we read of certain animals that are considered “clean” and “unclean.” The clean animals were allowed to be used for food and sacrificial worship, but the unclean animals were not. Now, there were a few reasons as to why some animals were considered clean and others unclean. One had to do with the predatory nature of most of the unclean animals mentioned in the Old Testament. This was a characteristic shared by most of the unclean animals, and was an example of how nature had been polluted by sin. Several textual clues (especially in Leviticus) tie the framework of clean and unclean animals together with the “you shall eat” and the “you shall not eat” commands to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (compare Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:1-3 with Leviticus 11:2, 3, 9, 11, 21, 22). You see, animals were not designed by God to be predators! God had created all creatures in the beginning to survive from fruit and vegetables:
Genesis 1:29-30-And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.
Meat-eating animals were a reminder of the corruption that had come into the world as a result of sin. The unclean animals mentioned in the Old Testament are primarily meat-eating predators.
What is especially interesting is that some scholars believe that this predatory trait of unclean animals also was meant to remind the Israelites that they were not to take advantage of the vulnerable and oppressed people in their midst. In other words, they were not to be unkind and oppressive towards their fellow man, taking advantage of the weak and oppressed, like the predatory unclean animals that they were commanded to avoid!
“Furthermore, the kinds of animals that were permitted and forbidden in the Israelites’ diet were linked to the kind of people God wanted them to be. They weren’t to be predators in their human relationships.…In regard to the predatory aspect, animals of the air (owls, gulls, hawks, and carrion-eaters such as vultures) are forbidden in Israel’s diet because they themselves have consumed blood; they’re predatory. Remember the prohibition against eating blood in Genesis 9:4, suggesting respect for life, which is in the blood: “the life of all flesh is its blood” (Lev. 17:14). As for land animals, quadruped plant-eaters—rather than carnivores—may be eaten (once their blood has been drained). The fact that they (1) chew the cud and (2) have split hoofs (whether domestic or wild) are clear indications that they never eat blood and thus are not predatory (Lev. 11:3).…If scholars who claim that certain unclean animals symbolize vulnerability and defenselessness are correct, then this representation of the oppressed—the alien, the widow, the orphan (Deut. 14: 29; 16: 11; cf. Isa. 1: 17)—would serve as a reminder that they ought to be respected. Israel’s entire way of life—down to the very food they ate (or didn’t eat)—mattered to God. Their diet served as a reminder of the holy and the unholy: Israelites were to avoid the unholy activity of preying upon the vulnerable in society.” (Paul Copan, Is God a Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God, 81-84 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books)
In a world where the powerful often take advantage of the marginalized and the abused, let’s counter that by genuine acts of kindness in our daily lives as God’s people. Speak up for and stand up with those in need.
Isaiah 1:17-Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (NLT)-Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. 9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Micah 6:8-He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Zechariah 8:16-17-These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; 17 Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.”
Matthew 5:16-Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:42-And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Galatians 6:10-Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
James 1:27 (Amplified)-External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.
A kind word, a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, some extra food or clothing, a friendly phone call, a note in the mail, an encouraging text message….any of these things can go such a long way!
Romans 12:21-Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Everything in God’s Word-in one way or another-points us to a restored and renewed relationship with our God, and with our fellow man. Today, let’s do what we can to help those in need.
Thank You Lord for both the simple and deep truths of Your Word that teach us Your will. Guide us today to help someone in need, and give us the love and ability to speak life over them and help in some way. May we bring glory to You. In Your Name we pray, Amen.