5 Life Lessons from the OT Dietary Laws

One of the most perplexing parts of the Bible involves the Old Testament food laws.  Indeed, many unbelievers will go so far as to use these laws to mock the Christian religion. 

While these laws are no longer binding on Christians today, understanding their place and role helps us know more about God's will for our lives now.  Here are five lessons that we can glean from them.

1.  God is watching out for us -  The Jews were some of the healthiest people on the planet.  The reason was much because of their diet.  Most of the animals that God forbid were, to some degree or other, toxic for consumption.  Jews didn't have to worry about scurvy and trichinosis b/c God was watching out for them.  Other animals had unsanitary eating habits...and who wants to eat toilet bowl cleaner? 

We must remember that obedience is good for us.  God's law is meant to facilitate life.  If we obey God's law we will likely see good health and much happiness.

2. God loves us immensely -  God had given the food laws so that the people of Israel would be distinguished from all the other people's of the earth.  They were to stand out as a holy nation, a peculiar people, etc.  Their diet only served to reinforce the notion that they belonged specifically to the Lord.

The food laws may not make for devotional reading, but each line should remind us that God has a special love for us.  We are His unique people and He has chosen us out of all the people of the earth.

3.  Unity -  Food is the great unifier, is it not?  Our carry-in meals create greater bonds of fellowship among us.  We gain encouragement and strength as we sit and eat with each other.  So too with the Jews!  The food laws of the OT helped the Israelites bond as a people.  It reinforced their identity and faith in God. 

As the wise have said: "Intimate friendships are formed at table."  

4.  Bad company corrupts good character -  It's not too hard to figure out who doesn't come to a vegan party, does it?  Just as food unites, it also separates.  It can keep people apart.  

The finicky diet of the Jews kept them from having unholy companionship. Since they couldn't fellowship with pagans very well due to the different menues, they were often kept from relationships that would lead to idolatry and sin.

From this we may be reminded that we ought not to be unequally yoked and develop deep relationships with people of different faiths.  

5.  Redemptive reminder -  One of the prime food laws regarded the eating/drinking of blood.  Not only was this a practice that was unhealthy and typically associated with idolatrous rites, but it was a reminder of the realities of life and death.  Blood (which is a symbol of life) must be shed due to sin.  To profane blood is to profane life.  Moreover, it reflects poorly upon the blood sacrifice of Christ, whose aim is to restore life.

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