God Said So

There is no book like the Bible, a book read, studied and discussed more than any other.  The profound revelations of God's word provokes deep thoughts, careful consideration and personal introspection.  Over the storied history of thousands of years, I can hardly appreciate the immeasurable, positive impact the Scriptures have had on the lives of people and nations.  Because God's thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways, there are difficult passages which are hard to understand.  By faith in God who has revealed Himself, when faced with verses beyond our understanding, our thirst for knowledge is satiated by returning to what we can know about God beyond doubt.

In Yancey's What's So Amazing about Grace?, he mentioned a persistent question many people have had over the years and ways people tried to answer it:  how God decided which foods were clean and unclean under Mosaic Law.

"God's brief explanation allows much room for interpretation, and scholars have long debated the reasons behind the reason.  Some have pointed out the health benefits of the Levitical laws.  The ban against pork removed the threat of trichinosis, and a ban against shellfish kept the Israelites safe from the viruses sometimes found in oysters and mussels.  Others note that many of the forbidden animals are scavengers, feeding on carrion.  Still others observe that specific laws seem directed against the customs of the Israelites' pagan neighbors...Anthropologist Mary Douglas goes further, noting that in each case God forbids animals that show an anomaly." (Yancey, Philip. What’s so Amazing about Grace? Zondervan, 1997. page 149)

While these interpretations may have their merits, it is important to acknowledge what other Bible passages have to say on the subject.  Paul, a man raised observing the dietary requirements of the Law of Moses, after coming to Christ in faith said in 1 Timothy 4:4-5:  "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵ for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."  Paul says on God's authority every creature of God is good, having been created by Him.  Even food offered to idols did not physically contaminate the eater who ate by thanksgiving to God.  The uncleanness exposed by the Law was not particular animals, but took aim to expose the uncleanness of the human heart, our tendency to lean on our own understanding rather than walking by faith and obedience to God.  God did not provide the reasons He deemed some animals clean and others unclean--which can seem arbitrary to us.

Yet we know God does not do anything arbitrarily; He has purposes and plans in what He chooses to do and not do.  If we as parents are justified to tell our children right from wrong because we say so, shouldn't we allow God this latitude without us questioning Him or making our submission contingent on our agreement with His reasons given for why?  If God wanted to tell us why He certainly could have, and perhaps the distinction of clean and unclean animals was merely His means to reveal the uncleanness in humans who question, doubt and disobey Him rather than simply believing and obeying Him!  The New Testament shows this is the primary purpose of Law, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.  It was never the pork or shellfish that were the problems in themselves:  the problem God's Law exposed was the unbelief, pride and selfishness in the human heart.

When I consider the Law of Moses and any passage that seems arbitrary, Proverbs 3:5-6 holds forth a principle that was relevant for Jews under Law and relevant for all today who are in Christ by faith:  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  In God's wisdom He did not explain everything or the reasons behind all His commands, and in doing so mankind was given a choice to trust God or lean on our own understanding.  Those who know and trust God are blessed beyond measure, for He is with us and shall direct our paths.