By eating only clean food we promote a correct image of Yehovah to the world and become a light shining the the darkness for all to see.
Yehovah spoke to Aaron saying:
“Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean [tamei] and clean [tahor], and that you may teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which Yehovah has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.†(Lev 10:9-11)
The priests were to teach Israel’s seed (perversely known as “the children of Israel”)and the Ger (the strangers that dwell with them) how to separate themselves from their uncleanliness and to become holy as Yehovah is holy. And understanding the difference between clean foods and unclean foods is essential to their eternal survival. No one can eat unclean foods and remain among Yehovah’s people; they and their families will have to leave.
Understand Clean Foods Begins Here
“Then Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying; ‘Again, you shall say to Israel’s seed: Whoever of Israel’s seed, or of the strangers [the Gerim] who dwell in Israel, … You shall therefore distinguish between clean [tahor] animals and unclean [tamei], between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. And you shall be holy to Me, for I Yehovah am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine’.†(Lev_20:1-2 & 25-26)
“Thus you [Aaron and his sons] shall separate Israel’s seed from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.†(Lev_15:31).
The book of Leviticus contains the essential teachings as to how each if Israel’s seed is to live and maintain the unity of his covenant relationship with Yehovah. In it we learn about the offerings and slaughters that cover our (men’s) offenses while at the same time draws our hearts, thoughts and emotions to Yehovah and His eternal and unchanging ways. It is also in the book of Leviticus that we learn to make many distinctions between that which is clean [tahor] and that which is unclean [tamei] concerning food and many other things.
Clean foods and Unclean foods, tahor and tamei foods, have nothing to do with foods being washed. Instead tahor and tamei represent two realms, or states of being before the Creator.
Things that belong to the realm of tahor (clean) are indeed useful in presenting and promoting the image of Yehovah in the earth. The things the Torah teaches which belong to the realm of tamei (unclean)are not acceptable for promoting the image of Yehovah in the earth. By learning to make these distinctions we determine our orientation toward Yehovah and our eternal destiny. This is part 1 of a 6 part series on clean food in Torah.
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.†(Eze 18:21)
Do we want a closer walk with Yehovah?
As we learn, and begin, to walk in his statutes and ordinances, we remove the stumbling blocks and barriers that interfere and weaken our connection with the Creator, while at the same time we more fully manifest his image in the world; and isn’t that what our job in this life is to be? Manifesting Yehovah’s image and kingdom on the earth for all to see. We are to be His light shining in the darkness.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God (Elohim – the lawmaker and judge) and keep His commandments, for this is the man’s all. For Elohim will bring every work into judgment; including every secret thing, whether good or evil.†(Ecc 12:13-14)
When we fail to make these distinctions and transgress Yehovah’s statutes, judgments and commandments we become tamei, unclean to Him. By failing to keep the Torah, whether by adding to its teachings or subtracting from them, or merely failing to live by them, we manifest a distorted image of Yehovah in the Earth. Saying we are His and failing to keep His ways is taking His name in vain; and that has very serious consequences:
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled Israel’s seed underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says Yehovah. And again, ‘Yehovah will judge His people!’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.†(Heb 10:26-31)
When we fail to keep the Torah we are guilty of distorting and desecrating the image of Yehovah in the eyes of the world.
In order to know Yehovah and have His blessing on our life, we must learn to follow Him wholly. A great start in doing so is to make the distinctions between the realm of tahor and that of tamei and understand what Yehovah calls clean foods. Yehovah’s image is not to be associated with death and dying. As I see it the animals that Yehovah says are not food are those which, for the most part, clean up the earth and the seas. They live off the death of other animals and the decay that has fallen to the earth.
The animals, fish, birds and insects that we are allowed to use as clean foods eat primarily living plants and not dead animals. By making a distinction between that which is food and that which is not, we learn to choose life!
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live; that thou may love Yehovah, thy Elohim, that thou may obey His voice, and that thou may cling to Him, for He is thy life and the length of thy days; and that thou may dwell in the land which Yehovah swore to thy fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.†(Deu 30:19-20)
Here is my teaching on Leviticus 11.
Clean Food
Let’s now understand Peter’s Acts 10 vision in the correct context. Go to part 2
Meat “Sacrificed” to “Idols” (9 Parts)
Oh my! We are all doing this, unless we are slaughtering our own animals. Many want to obey Leviticus 11, but completely ignore Leviticus 17. Failure to understand this will get a man (with his family) kicked out of Israel.