When deciding on which gas we put in our car we usually refer to what the manufacture recommends that is if we appreciate our car. If we don't we will not get the same performance as with the correct fuel. Well brethren our manufacture has given us a manual with promises of lifespan. David in Psalms 90:10 wrote that we are given 70 to 80 years depending on our strength. Yahweh to prevent some of the problems with wickedness as it was before the great flood during Noah's time restricted men to 120 years.
Genesis 6:3 And Yahweh said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
There are many reasons why lives are short and one of them is the food that we eat. Considering that our bodies need rest and nourishment the food is often the most neglected part of our care for the spiritual temple of Yahweh. Clean foods among Christians are not popular and bitterly fought. Among some believers it is one of the least important items in their grand scheme of salvation. Eating of unclean food does at least two common sense things, it disregards Yahweh's laws and it defiles our body.
You are special to Yahweh; He has set you apart from all other people. The eating of clean foods set you apart (make holy) from all the other nations. The command of which foods are clean can be found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
Deuteronomy 14:2 For thou art an holy (set apart) people unto Yahweh thy Elohim, and Yahweh hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
In Leviticus 11 we find Yahweh speaking of the first group of animals that can be eaten.
Leviticus 11:1 And Yahweh spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
Cows, bison, deer, and antelope are just some of the animals that fit this category. It is made clear here that the animal has to have both split hooves and chews the cud. If you are familiar with these animals it is easy to see that they have split hooves but the chewing of the cud is perhaps a little harder to see. The importance of chewing the cud is that these animals have a digestion system that regurgitates the food and then it is chewed again. With cows if you have ever watched them they will appear to be chewing on something almost like they have chewing gum. The unclean animals like pigs have split hooves but don't chew their cud. Rabbits may appear to chew their cud but they definitely don't have hooves so they are unclean.
Science has shown that pigs are genetically close to humans and pig hearts for example are used as transplants in humans. This also points to the fact that since there are such similarities that pigs may have diseases which can easily be spread to humans. Yahweh says not to even touch the unclean animal's carcass.
Leviticus 11:9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: 11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Trout, Bluegill, Walleye, Pollock, and many other fish have both scales and fins. Scales have been found to help protect the fish's muscle from being saturated with pollution in the water. Fish without scales absorb the pollutants from the water.
Leviticus 11:13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
Fowl that may not be eaten are mostly birds of pray or scavengers like the vulture, eagle, and the hawk. Others that may not be eaten are not necessarily considered fowl but fly as the bat which can crawl using both its legs and wings which looks as if it is on all four legs. This leaves animals like ducks, turkey, chickens, etc. that maybe eaten.
Leviticus 11:21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; 22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
Most insects are considered to have six legs generally but many insects fly and appear to have four legs. A house fly for example is unclean because it appears to creep on all fours and also flies. Grasshoppers on the other hand hop along more than flying the way most insects move.
Leviticus 11:24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
Those who touch the carcass of an unclean animal are unclean until even. Restricting the unclean person from interaction with other animals and people this prevented the spread of disease among Israel's herds.
Leviticus 11:29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, 30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.
Rodents, tortoise, ferret, lizards, snails, moles, etc. are unclean. Much of their diet is from scavenging which as we have a problem with today pollution tends to end up in the ground where most of these animals crawl and eat. The carcass of these animals will also make the person who touches them unclean until evening.
Leviticus 11:32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. 33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it. 34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you. 36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. 38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you. 39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. 40 And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.
Leviticus 11:32-43 gives examples of keeping ones house clean if a dead unclean animal for example is found in a earthen vessel. The earthen vessel is to be destroyed. This prevents the uncleanliness from being transferred to what ever is placed in the earthen vessel. An example of a dead fly being found in a earthen vessel containing grain would be the grain and the earthen vessel be disposed of so that the uncleanliness is not transferred.
Leviticus 11:44 For I am Yahweh your Elohim: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45 For I am Yahweh that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
Here and in Deuteronomy 14 Yahweh specifies what meats Israel may eat. This is to set us apart from all the people of the world. For meat to be kosher or proper for consumption it must also meet the requirement for it to be drained of blood because the life is in the blood. Deuteronomy 12:23 reads, "Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh." Some animals like the giraffe for example has a split hove and chews its cud but since it has such a long neck it is almost impossible to drain the blood from its flesh. It is doubtful that it would be a kosher source of meat. Deuteronomy 12:15-28 also gives us the practice of bringing the tithe and firstlings before Yahweh. The Levites because they are without inheritance were to receive some of the animal. In Deuteronomy 12:20-28 we find what to do if the place which Yahweh places his name is too far.
Deuteronomy 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose to set his name there, when Yahweh thy Elohim hath blessed thee: 25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose:
Deuteronomy 14:29 also reminds us not to forget the Levite. Just as we are not to eat the blood the fat is to be for Yahweh burnt on the altar to make a sweet odor. (Leviticus 3:17) In later times it was the a priest who would determine if meat was kosher by verifying that the animal was without defect and that it had been killed properly. The firstborn animals are to be redeemed, as in Deuteronomy 12, 14, and Exodus 13. This redemption points back to the Passover, which if the animal is not redeemed its neck is to be snapped. It is a part of the tithe that is to be put aside for the Levite and the poor. Many farms sell the firstborn and give the money to the assemblies and the poor among the brethren (widow, fatherless, etc.).
A summary of the animals which maybe eaten are the animals with hooves that chew the cud, fish with fins and scales, non-carnivorous birds that fly, and grasshopper type insects that hop rather than fly. Meat that is not bloody may be eaten as long as it is from a clean animal. The fat around the organs may not be eaten either. Firstlings may only be eaten after they have been redeemed. The age of redemption is considered to be the eighth day, this why on the eighth day male children are circumcised and clean animals maybe sacrificed on the eighth day. The age of an animal is 8 days for sheep, goats and other cattle. (Exodus 22:29-31, Lev. 22:26-28) A theory often considered in conflict with eating animals while still nursing is offered by many as an explanation for Ex. 23:19, 34:26, Deut. 14:21. If we let Yahweh's word expound upon this theory we find that seven days the animal is allowed to nurse. On the eighth day it may be offered, the explanation for this is found in Leviticus 22.
Leviticus 22:26 And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, 27 When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto Yahweh. 28 And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day. 29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto Yahweh, offer it at your own will. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am Yahweh.
On the eighth day a clean animal may be offered, reading on it many not be killed the same day that the mother is killed. In the thanksgiving offering the fat and the blood was offered by fire before Yahweh. The animal was cooked and eaten by the person who offered it before Yahweh on the day it is offered and before the next morning. Leviticus 7 clarifies the timing of when the thanksgiving offering may be eaten.
Leviticus 7:15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
Considering that clean animals are the only animals that would have been sacrificed to Yahweh they are special to Yahweh and represent a setting apart of the people who are followers and those who are not. Yahweh also gives us in Genesis instruction as to distinguish which fruits and vegetables we may eat.
Genesis 1:29 And Elohim said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
If the fruit or vegetable reproduces through a seed1 it may be eaten. Apples for example we eat the fruit that surrounds the seed. Potatoes we actually eat the seed as in walnuts and Brazilian nuts.
Yahweh has given us these scriptures to guide us in the correct way to eat. Animals and herbs that we eat were created for our consumption. I have talked with many brethren who once ate unclean foods and they said it seemed like their mind is much clearer since they started eating according to Yahweh's direction. This makes a lot of sense considering that Yahshua the Messiah pointed to our bodies as being the temple of Yahweh. This is only a small fraction of what we need to be concerned. Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah has given us a path by which we are to live. Let's strive to keep each step closer to the path of our High Priest Yahshua the Messiah.
Notes:
1. The question was asked does this mean that we cannot eat the seeds, i.e. potatoes, brazil nuts, walnuts, etc. The answer to this question is yes that we may eat the seed. This is pointing to any green plant maybe eaten if it reproduces through seeds making molds and fungi unacceptable for consumption. The eating of seeds being acceptable can be proven simply through the many grains that are eaten like barley, wheat, and rye.
