Why were certain animals
forbidden as food?
Why did God pronouce certain animals as unclean for consumption and others as clean? Was it simply for dietary reasons, or was there a spiritual message or spiritual concepts which He was sharing? Was there something which He was revealing about Himself? Why did He make these declarations?
What one must understand is that God is a spiritual being, and as such a spirit is concerned with things of the spirit. But in order for people I the flesh to be able to udnerstand, our Lord devised a way to reveal spiritual truth to man in a way which we could understand. He could have very well just told people what He was trying to teach them, but He knew that if He did so it would only become more head knowledge, not creating a spiritual change or understanding. He also did it this way in order to demonstrate a separation between those who partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life, which is a teaching in itself.
In the following sets of Scriptures, the Lord wasn't simply giving His people dietary laws for their physical well-being. He was showing them the differences between the character of His spirit and how He expected them to walk and the spirits(nature) which are in opposition to His nature and reflections of someone who is suffering from a spiritual malady, whether overtly hostile to others or detrimental to one's self. By recognizing and correctly interpreting the symbols and recognizing the messages which our Lord gave us, it becomes clear that there was a great spiritual lesson which He was making available to His people. Some of the symbols which are going to be shared will be obvious, some may not be so. Please pray and ask if these things are so.
Starting with Leviticus, chapter 11:
Leviticus 11:1-3:1The LORD spoke again to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth. 3'Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.
A divided hoof represents balance. Chewing the cud represents righteous deliberation. These are aspects of a godly nature in an individual. These are spiritual traits which are pleasing to Him as they are representations of his very own nature.
4'Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you.
Again chewing the cud represents righteous deliberation, but in this case the camel is banned because though it represents deliberation by chewing the cud, by it's lack of having a divided hoof the camel represents someone or a spirit in someone which may deliberate but since there isn't balance there will always be some kind of spiritual deficiency. This type of person/spirit is unclean because it isn't of God and reveals a corrupt image of Him when demonstrated by one of His people.
5'Likewise, the shaphan, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you;
In the the King James translation of the Scripture 'shaphan' is translated 'rock badger'. Again the Lord is using an animal and it's typical nature to demonstrate a type of spirit which is contrary to His. Anyone who is familiar with the badger family knows that by nature a badger is a loner type of animal and very aggressive. Actually downright mean. In this case it represents a person or spirit which chews the cud, yet is openly hostile and unbalanced.
6the rabbit also, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you;
A rabbit is a very anxious creature by nature and displays characteristics which makes a person unclean. The rabbit represents a person/spirit which is full on anxieties, a person/spirit which is frightened easily, has troubles trusting anything or anyone, yet in their anxiety meditates and is unbalanced as well. When these traits are combined they reveal a person/spirit which is unclean and in opposition to the nature of God which is supposed to be found in His servants.
7and the pig, for though it divides the hoof, thus making a split hoof, it does not chew cud, it is unclean to you. 8'You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.
The pig is an openly unclean animal. It wallows in it's own filth and even seek sustenance from places which are filled with refuse. The pig represents an individual/spirit which knowingly gathers from places which are obviously unclean, not caring whether it's food (spiritual truth) is corrupted or not. As long as it's appetites are sated, it is content. These animals are all examples of spirits/people which are unclean and in opposition to the Spirit of the Lord.
9'These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. 10'But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you, 11and they shall be abhorrent to you; you may not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall detest. 12'Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales is abhorrent to you.
Again, when examining this ordinance one must examine the differences in the characteristics of those creatures in the waters which have fins and scales and compare them against those creature which don't. In the vast majority of cases in the waters, those creatures which don't have scales and fins are predators and scavengers, both being spiritual characteristics of an unclean person/spirit.
13'These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds; they are abhorrent, not to be eaten: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, 14and the kite and the falcon in its kind,
All of these birds are predatory and they prefer to surprise their prey unawares. In addition, the vulture, the buzzard, and the kite are birds which will feed off the dead. these are all characteristics which should not be present in God's people.
15every raven in its kind,
Something very peculiar about the raven family is that they displays characteristics of being mischievious, cunning , and they steal. They are notorious for stealing bright shiny objects, which in turn represents those who takes things which don't belong to them to satisfy their own carnal longings. All of these characteristics stand in opposition to God's own nature and don't, nor can't represent Him.
16and the ostrich and the owl and the sea gull and the hawk in its kind,
The ostrich is a bird which can't fly. It has been known for losing it's own offspring out of a seeming lack of dedication or brains. It is quick to run from a perceived threat, but upon recognizing no danger, it quickly turns aggressive. An ostrich represents a person/spirit which isn't at all spiritual, will passively act as if threats or responsibilites don't exist, is foolish, and will only show courage when it perceives itself to be clearly in a dominant position.
The owl is not only a predator, but it prefers to hunt at night. It takes it's prey when it's prey can't see it coming.
The sea gull is a very noisy bird which is a well known scavenger as well as a nuisance. Many people even call them rats with wings. The sea gull represnts a person/spirit which is always talking (basically just making noise for the sake of talking/making noise), will eat garbage to satisfy its hunger (eat corrupt spiritual food in order to satisfy one's carnal desires) and which lives to feed off of others. This is the type of person/spirit which is unclean and doesn't represent God's nature.
17and the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl,
A cormorant is a bird which can be found in large colonies and they are well known for being loud and having a strong odor due to their large amounts of guano which they produce. They are also very awkward on land, having seeming difficulty walking upright. This bird represents a person/spirit which likes to gather in large noisy groups, a gossip, which makes it's own habitation obnoxiously dirty with its own excrement (corruption which it produces). It is a person who has a problem with walking in an upright fashion and is definitely in opposition to godly character.
19and the stork, the heron in its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat.
The stork is an elegant bird, but is very peculiar in the fact that a stork has no voice of it's own and communicates through various noises like hissing, croaking, and wheezing. This represents a person/spirit which looks beautiful on the outside, yet has no voice of it's own and communicates in an annoying, rude sort of manner. These types of people are akin to those who look good but when they open their mouths their communications tend to drive people away.
A heron is a bird which will pretty much eat anything that it can find and can often be found stirring up mud to find food. This represents a person or spirit which is an opportunist and who feeds it's carnal desires by stirring up dirt on people. We all know the type, those who love to find dirt and receive some kind of fulfillment in doing so.
A hoopoe is a bird which has a beautiful crown and looks rather elegant. It is a bird which is only monogamous for a season. This bird represents, arrogance, as well as a lack of faithfulness. Both aspects which are make a person unclean.
The bat is an interesting creature to be included amongst the birds, and is fact not even a bird. It's a mammal. It's an animal which hunts at night, has a system of detection which enables it to catch it's prey while unaware, and it's habitation is generally filthy from it's own excrement. This is an animal which is like a bird in many ways, but isn't actually a bird. Just like those people/spirits which have similarities to God's people but are only imitations, also loving to take people unaware, and lives in their own dirtiness.
20'All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.
It's interesting to note that many of the insects which fall into this category actually eat excrement and decayed matter.
21'Yet these you may eat among all the winged insects which walk on all fours: those which have above their feet jointed legs with which to jump on the earth.
22'These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, and the devastating locust in its kinds, and the cricket in its kinds, and the grasshopper in its kinds.
These insects eat plants, not excrement. As such, they represent those people who don't harm others and only eat clean food (truth which nourishes). This is commendable in a person and represent an aspect of God's nature which bears witness to one who walks in Him.
24'By these, moreover, you will be made unclean: whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening, 25and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.
Here our Lord is calling for separation from these types of spirits and that their corruption can affect those who are clean. Oftentimes, when a person associates with shady/dirty people, they often pick up the same habits on those who they were associating with for a time. This is why it is wiser not to associate with such people due to the influence which they can have.
27'Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,
28and the one who picks up their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening; they are unclean to you.
These creatures are all predators and through associating with such people, this tendency to be predatory often becomes ingrained in those who originally were not.
29'Now these are to you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the great lizard in its kinds, 30and the gecko, and the crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand reptile, and the chameleon. 31'These are to you the unclean among all the swarming things; whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening.
In all of these animals we see obvious chracteristics which shouldn't be amongst God's people. Some are cold-blooded, and this is an obvious chracteristic of those in opposition to God's spirit/ways.
The mouse is a hoarder, an opportunist, and will eat garbage.
The chameleon blends in with it's environment in order to hide and catch its prey. It generally tries to make itself invisible, not wanting to be seen.
32'Also anything on which one of them may fall when they are dead becomes unclean, including any wooden article, or clothing, or a skin, or a sack--any article of which use is made--it shall be put in the water and be unclean until evening, then it becomes clean.
Here we are being shown that only by water(the Holy Spirit) can a vessel be cleaned.
33'As for any earthenware vessel into which one of them may fall, whatever is in it becomes unclean and you shall break the vessel. 34'Any of the food which may be eaten, on which water comes, shall become unclean, and any liquid which may be drunk in every vessel shall become unclean. 35'Everything, moreover, on which part of their carcass may fall becomes unclean; an oven or a stove shall be smashed; they are unclean and shall continue as unclean to you.
Here we are being told that when we take corrupt charcteristics/spirits into our self and walk in them everthing is corrupt, as well as the person themselves becoming corrupt/unclean; the food (truth) which comes from the unclean is unclean, the water (spirit/nature) which is polluted is unclean. Those vessels (people) which are used to cook (supply) the food (truth) are corrupt and produce corrupted food. The vessels being broken represent repentance.
36'Nevertheless a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean.
But one who has the spirit flowing through them shall be clean, though the person who allows these types of spirits/people/influences to affect them will be unclean. This is how our Lord Jesus was able to walk amongst the unclean, yet remain clean. It's akin to being with people, but not partaking or their behaviours.
37'If a part of their carcass falls on any seed for sowing which is to be sown, it is clean. 38'Though if water is put on the seed and a part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.
When a person comes into contact with someone who is spiritually unclean this doesn't mean that they are going to be made unclean. It's when an unclean influence is presented and is watered (nourished) that is when the seed becomes unclean and will grow to bear corrupt fruit due to contamination.
39'Also if one of the animals dies which you have for food, the one who touches its carcass becomes unclean until evening.
Here we are being told that when a person who was originally clean (righteous) and then becomes dirty (through sin) the one who becomes influenced by the person turned corrupt will also become corrupted.
40'He too, who eats some of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening, and the one who picks up its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.
The one who shares in another persons uncleaness/sin becomes unclean and must be washed anew to become clean. The one who even condones unclean behaviour will be unclean.
41'Now every swarming thing that swarms on the earth is detestable, not to be eaten.
These are the people who love to gang up in unrighteousness in order to overwhelm the righteous. They are those who blindly follow the leader and operate out of a mob mentality.
43'Do not render yourselves detestable through any of the swarming things that swarm; and you shall not make yourselves unclean with them so that you become unclean.
Do not make one's self abominable before God through the ways or influence of these types of people.
44'For I am the LORD your God Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. 45'For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.'" 46This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, 47to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten.
We are to be set apart from the ways of the wicked and this is why our Lord has brought us out of the worldly ways which we used to live for. He has called us to be morally and spiritually pure, and in doing so making a distinction to all of creation of the differences between God's perfection and all else.
We are also reminded and shown the same principles/message in Deuteronomy 14:
2"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 3"You shall not eat any detestable thing.
Being called by His name, we are represent Him and His very name. We should not allow any corrupt attitude/spirit to reside in us and bring shame to His name and glory.
4"These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. 6"Any animal that divides the hoof and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.
The ox represents a hard worker which chews the cud (thinks/meditates), eats plants (doesn't take life to satisfy it's appetites) and splits the hoof (walks in balance).
A sheep is docile and will follow it's shepherd.
The goat appears to be gruff but is actually able to be lead.
The deer is graceful and fleet (a deer actually stops for a second when unsure of danger and makes quick decisions).
All of these animals display characteristics when coupled with chewing the cud and having a divided hoof which are representative of those aspects of God's nature which bring glory to Him.
21"You shall not eat anything which dies of itself. You may give it to the alien who is in your town, so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to the LORD your God.
Here we are being told that we are not to partake in anyone's sin/corrupt nature and those things which come of it. If those who aren't of God's people choose to be partakers of these corruptions, let them. But His people are held to a higher expectation because by being partakers of corruption, we bring shame to His name.
I pray that the things which I have shared with you unlock many doors in understanding His purposes, will, and ways. Throughout the Scripture the Lord has revealed Himself; what pleases Him, what is contrary to Him, how He made creation, How He designed the very universe, even exactly how He did it. I pray that I've been used to open up a deeper understanding of Him or have been used to confirm revelation which He may have already given to you. May you be richly blessed as you serve Him in Spirit and in Truth.
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Why were certain animals forbidden as food?