Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals
Wednesday, October 7
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Genesis 9:4-But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
Does the Bible here forbid blood transfusions, as our friends among the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach?
Not at all.
Instead, the passages which forbid the consumption of blood have to do with pagan worship.
Before going any further, we must address the question: Why was the dietary law in Genesis 9: 4 given to the Israelites in the first place? Many scholars relate the law to the blood sacrifices that would become a regular part of Israel’s religious life. Bible scholar H.C. Leupold has this to say: These restrictions are given in view of the ordinances that are later to govern the use of blood in sacrifices. This provision, then, of Noah’s time prepares for the sacrificial use of blood, and that which is to be sacred in sacrifice… should hardly be employed that a man may glut his appetite with it. In fact, it is not an overstatement of the case to remark that ultimately this restriction is made in view of the sanctity of the blood of our Great High Priest, who is both priest and sacrifice. 23 It is understandable why such a dietary regulation would be necessary. After all, some of the pagan nations surrounding Israel had no respect whatsoever for blood. These pagans ate blood on a regular basis. Sometimes they did this as part of the worship of false gods; at other times they did this because they thought it might bring them supernatural power. In any event, the prohibition against eating blood set Israel apart from such ungodly nations. (Ron Rhodes, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, 382-383 (Kindle Edition): Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers)
Throughout God’s Word, we are warned against becoming engaged in pagan practices and religions, many of which revolve around the abuse of blood. For example, in warning the children of Israel against the corruption in the land of Canaan, the Lord told them to beware of the influence of “that person who eats blood.”
Leviticus 17:10-11-And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
The context of this passage is tied directly with the shedding and consuming of blood in paganism as a form of worship.
Leviticus 17:7-They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.” ‘
This is seen especially in the context of the people of Israel not imitating the religious practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites.
Leviticus 18:1-3-Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
There were nine specific forms of witchcraft which the Canaanites practiced, all of which were forbidden by God.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12-There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.
The ancient Jewish history book, the Wisdom of Solomon, has this description of the pagan religion of the Canaanites.
Wisdom Of Solomon 12:1-7-For thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things. 2 Therefore chastenest thou them by little and little that offend, and warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein they have offended, that leaving their wickedness they may believe on thee, O Lord. 3 For it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our fathers both those old inhabitants of thy holy land, 4 Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious works of witchcrafts, and wicked sacrifices; 5 And also those merciless murderers of children, and devourers of man’s flesh, Andy the feasts of blood, 6 With their priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew, and the parents, that killed with their own hands souls destitute of help: 7 That the land, which thou esteemedst above all other, might receive a worthy colony of God’s children.
Notice how one element of Canaanite religion involved “the feasts of blood.”
In our day and age, there are many who continue to practice paganism with the consumption of blood. There is a substance known as adrenochrome, which is blood that has been flooded with adrenaline. Horrifically, the notorious Epstein Files contain numerous references to this. Long before I heard much of Jeffrey Epstein, I was ministering in eastern Kentucky with people who were involved in pagan religions that detailed these things to me. (Back then, I learned of a man named Kerth Barker, who is a survivor of Satanic Ritual Abuse. He is very familiar with how occultists in our time follow these same ancient pagan ceremonies, and he even wrote a truly unsettling book about the matter entitled Cannibalism, Blood Drinking, And High Adept Satanism).
The passages of the Bible that forbid the consumption of blood have to do with pagan worship, and nothing to do with blood transfusions.
Father, give us discernment and wisdom as we live and minister in this world. We praise You. Amen.