Torah Class - Day 7: Statutes 397-411

Today we continued our study of the Statutes relating to the 6th Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill". We are focusing on Leviticus 11, looking at clean and unclean foods.

Here are a few highlights from class today:

Why does Yahweh identify some animals as suitable for human consumption and others as unsuitable? Scripture tells us that Yahweh gave His Laws (including those of which meats are clean or unclean) "that it might be well" with those who seek to obey Him (Deuteronomy 5:29).

Although God did not reveal the specific reasons some animals may be eaten and others must be avoided, we can make generalized conclusions based on the animals included in the two categories.

In listing the animals that should not be eaten, Yahweh forbids the consumption of scavengers and carrion eaters, which devour other animals for their food.

Animals such as pigs, bears, vultures and raptors can eat (and thrive) on decaying flesh. Predatory animals such as wolves, lions, leopards and cheetahs most often prey on the weakest (and at times the diseased) in animal herds.

When it comes to sea creatures, bottom dwellers such as lobsters and crabs scavenge for dead animals on the sea floor. Shellfish such as oysters, clams and mussels similarly consume decaying organic matter that sinks to the sea floor, including sewage.

A common denominator of many of the animals God designates as unclean is that they routinely eat flesh that would sicken or kill human beings. When we eat such animals we partake of a food chain that includes things harmful to people.
As nutritionist David Meinz observes:

"Could it be that God, in His wisdom, created certain creatures whose sole purpose is to clean up after the others? Their entire 'calling' may be to act exclusively as the sanitation workers of our ecology. God may simply be telling us that it's better for us believers not to consume the meat of these trash collectors". Eating by the Book,1999, p. 225

What Science knows about the dangers of eating pork: Neurocysticerosis Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhgXukqIa5U

What About Peter’s Food Vision
Peter’s dream in Acts 10 is used more than any other passage of Scripture to argue that Christians are no longer expected by God to follow the dietary laws in Leviticus 11. Many believe this to be a proof text for the abolishment of many laws in the Torah.
 
Acts 10:9-16 ESV - “The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Sovereign; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”
 
A closer look into this passage shows us that this vision was not about food at all. It is first worth noting that Peter cannot bring himself to comply when he is told to rise, kill, and eat. Peter knew that Yahweh does not change (Malachi 3:6). Yet, if this dream-vision had been from Yahweh, it appeared that God was changing his own sacred Word. Peter would likely have quickly assumed that this vision was not from God, being that it seemingly transgressed His own Character. Yet, Scripture tells us that Heaven confirms its Messages by 2-3 witnesses, and Peter was given the vision three times! 

The three witnesses, which is a Heavenly Stamp of authenticity is on the vision, yet it bore a message which seemed to undermine Torah, which no Light-filled Message ever will (Isaiah 8:20). No wonder Peter was “perplexed”.
 
Acts 10:17-18 ESV - “Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.”

But Peter’s perplexity was quickly relieved. For Yahweh showed Peter that the vision wasn’t about food at all… It was a vision about people – specifically non-Jewish people, which Jewish law declared to be “unclean”.

Completed worksheets from this class are viewable and printable at the following link:

 

Upcoming Class Schedule:

Wednesday, October 2 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.

Friday, October 4 - FEAST OF TRUMPETS...  Join us online for a Feast of Trumpets' themed broadcast at 2 PM (PST) on Friday and Sabbath (October 5)... The broadcasts will be viewable on our website at: www.lightedway.org 

Monday, October 7 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.

Wednesday, October 9 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.

Monday, October 14 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.

Wednesday, October 16 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.