Basic HTML Version
Chapter 24—Flesh as Food
The diet appointed to human beings in the beginning did not
include animal food. Not till after the Flood, when every green thing
on the earth had been destroyed, did they receive permission to eat
flesh.
In choosing their food in Eden, the Lord showed what was the
best diet. In the choice made for Israel, He taught the same lesson.
He brought the Israelites out of Egypt and undertook their training
that they might be a people for His own possession. Through them
He desired to bless and teach the world. He provided them with
the food best adapted for this purpose, not flesh, but manna, “the
bread of heaven.” It was only because of their discontent and their
murmuring for the fleshpots of Egypt that animal food was granted
them, and this for only a short time. Its use brought disease and
death to thousands. Yet the restriction to a nonflesh diet was never
heartily accepted. It continued to be the cause of discontent and
murmuring, open or secret, and it was not made permanent.
Upon their settlement in Canaan, the Israelites were permitted
the use of animal food, but under careful restrictions that tended
to lessen the evil results. The use of swine’s flesh was prohibited
as was also that of other animals, birds, and fish whose flesh was
pronounced unclean. Clean meats were permitted, but eating of the
fat and blood was strictly forbidden.
Only such animals could be used for food as were in good con-
dition. No creature that was torn, that had died of itself, or from
which the blood had not been carefully drained could be used as
food. By departing from the plan divinely appointed for their diet,
the Israelites suffered great loss. They desired a flesh diet, and they
reaped its results. They did not reach God’s ideal of character or
[175]
fulfill His purpose. The Lord “gave them their request, but sent
leanness into their soul.”
Psalm 106:15
. They valued the earthly
above the spiritual, and they did not attain the sacred preeminence
that was His purpose for them.
213