For years, modern readers of the Bible have shunned the food laws found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy about as religiously as the ancient Israelites shunned pork and shrimp. A recent New York Times bestseller, however, touts the benefits of the biblical food laws for obese and unhealthy North Americans. In his book, The Maker's Diet, Dr. Jordan Rubin advocates a diet in large part aligned with the Israelite diet, which predates modern science by more than 3 millennia.[1]
A Messianic Jew, Dr. Rubin believes the Bible offers basic guidance on diet. He doesn't agree with the rabbinical kosher laws. Yet, he does believe that biblical teaching, including the Old Testament, is important and helpful, especially to an overweight and unhealthy society. Dr. Rubin himself emerged from a severe case of Crohn's disease by undergoing a rigorous diet derived in part from the biblical food laws. In an array of books on health and diet, Dr. Rubin serves up a blend of these biblical food laws and more generic health food dogma. His books frequently quote Scripture, both Old and New Testaments. They include an exposé of the farming and food industries, as well as average American eating habits. Dr. Rubin traces cancers and many other health problems, in part, to the use of pesticides, toxic environments, stress, and negative thinking.
All this raises some interesting questions
What Were the Food Laws For?
It is worth noting the fact that God speaks to man regarding his diet. He did not leave man simply to find his own way. As Creator and Provider, He directed man to suitable provisions to sustain and nourish his life. In Eden, of course, God directed Adam and Eve to a diet of fruits and vegetables (Gen 1:29). After the flood, the Lord added that man could eat meat (Gen 9:3-4).[2]
The most extensive food laws of the Old Testament are recorded in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. These chapters serve a number of purposes:
1. To teach man about the concepts of purity and impurity. The ceremonial laws were a curriculum to teach man about spiritual things, about Christ, the kingdom of God, and life under the banner of God. Paul explains in Colossians 2:16-17 that these laws are the shadow of Christ, who is the substance. Every time an Israelite cooked food, they had to operate with the concepts of purity and impurity in their minds. And so when the prophets showed the people their sin and said, "But we are all as an unclean thing," (Isa 64:6), the people had a picture in everyday life of what that was like. In fact, Ezekiel says that the priests in God's new temple will "teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezek 44:23). Thus, these food laws had a pedagogical purpose.
2. To show that God's precepts concern not only our inner being, but also our outer being. It remains true that God's kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and "within" a person. However, God commands that all of life be lived under His direction, including even the food we eat. The New Testament teaches that the food laws are fulfilled and abrogated; nevertheless, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). Leviticus 11, the chapter on the food laws, includes the well-known call: "Ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (v. 45; cf. 1 Peter 1:15-16). This is the ethical purpose.
3. To show the merciful
hospitality of God to His children.
The Bible regularly portrays God as a kind and gracious Host. He fed His people with manna in the
wilderness and with water from the rock (Deut 8:3). He furnished a table in the
wilderness (Ps 78:19). In Israel,
God spread an array of milk and honey, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish
before His people Israel. He, as
it were, set the table, and provided from His storehouses, a bounty to show His
mercy. As Host, God will not let
His children eat any of the unclean animals that He Himself does not accept for
offering (Num 28:2). He feeds them
with food convenient for them (Prov 30:8). He fills the hungry with good things (Luke 1:53). This is
the evangelical purpose.
[1]Jordan S. Rubin, The Maker's Diet: The 40-Day Health Experience That Will Change Your Life Forever (Lake Mary, FL: Siloam, 2004).
[2] There is some debate whether the "moving things" (Gen 9:3) refers to animals in flocks and herds (cattle, sheep), or animals in the wild. Presumably, it includes both. However, the Lord stipulates that this meat to be consumed be "living." He is telling man not to eat what he finds dead (carrion), but instead, something he kills for that purpose. Obviously, the risks of eating spoiled meat lie behind this stipulation. Secondly, man was not to eat the animal with the blood still in it. This command would have instilled in man a regard and respect for blood, which God calls "the life." Man was not to consume animal meat barbarically, but in an orderly way. Any terminating of life, even of an animal, was to be done in a way that acknowledged God as the Giver of sll life.